Malaysia permits ex-PM Najib Razak to serve term under house arrest

Malaysia's king on Friday granted jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak a rare royal clemency, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison term for graft under house arrest.

The decision came at a suddenly convened Pardons Board meeting, a week after the board deferred Najib's latest clemency application to a future meeting.

It marked an unprecedented use of house arrest as a form of royal clemency in Malaysia and could renew debate over royal powers, the rule of law and the treatment of Malaysia's most prominent corruption convict.

Najib will be allowed to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest until August 23rd, 2028, if he pays the 50 million ringgit fine imposed by the court.

The statement said Najib must also follow conditions set, failing which the pardon will be forfeited.

73 year-old Najib has been imprisoned since August 2022 after Malaysia's top court upheld his conviction in a graft case linked to the multi-billion dollar looting of the state investment fund 1 Malaysia Development Berhad.