Malaysian court clears former PM Najib Razak for house arrest transfer

What the report says

A Malaysian court has ruled that former Prime Minister Najib Razak can serve the remainder of a reduced prison sentence under house arrest, reopening a legal dispute over how a royal pardon should be applied. Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Aslam Zainuddin said the terms of the conditional pardon mean Najib should complete his six-year sentence at home. The decision came after an earlier move to keep him in prison was challenged.

Najib, 73, is serving time over his role in the looting of the now-defunct 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB, a state investment fund that became one of the world’s biggest financial scandals. Al Jazeera, citing AFP and Reuters, reported that he received a conditional pardon in September. His political party later paid a $12 million fine tied to the pardon terms, but the attorney general intervened and delayed his transfer to house arrest while legal questions were reviewed.

The case has drawn wider attention because it touches on the balance of power between Malaysia’s monarchy, courts and government. King Sultan Ibrahim has warned against efforts to challenge his order allowing Najib to leave prison. As Al Jazeera reported, the dispute has created political and constitutional controversy in Malaysia.

The house arrest order applies only to Najib’s first conviction. He also faces a separate 15-year sentence in another 1MDB-linked case, though that appeal is still pending.