Malaysia Ex-Leader to Serve Final Prison Years at Home After $12.3 Million Payment
Najib Razak's political party paid the required fine on Friday, triggering the terms of his royal pardon and allowing him to move from a prison cell to his Kuala Lumpur residence.
By Harvey Wilson ·
Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak will complete the remainder of his graft sentence under house arrest following a $12.3 million payment made by his political party.
The United Malays National Organization transferred 50 million ringgit to the High Court on Friday. This sum satisfied the financial condition attached to the royal clemency granted to Najib in September. Asyraf Wajid Dusuki, the party's secretary-general, confirmed in a statement that the donation drive raised sufficient funds and that the payment was completed earlier in the day.
Najib, 73, has been incarcerated since August 2022. That date marks the finalization of his conviction in the first trial related to the 1MDB state investment fund scandal. The Malaysian top court upheld the verdict at that time. The house arrest applies specifically to his reduced six-year sentence from that initial trial. It does not cover a separate 15-year prison term imposed in December 2025 for corruption and money laundering in a second major trial.
Police secured the area around Najib’s home in Kuala Lumpur early Friday. Officers blocked the road leading to his residence as they prepared for his transfer from prison. The exact timing of his departure from the facility was not immediately determined.
The 1MDB fund was established in 2009 shortly after Najib took office. Investigators determined that at least $4.5 billion was stolen from the vehicle. Associates of Najib allegedly laundered the money through bank accounts in the United States and other nations. The proceeds financed Hollywood films, luxury real estate, a yacht, and high-value art and jewelry.
Najib was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2020. He faced charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving 42 million ringgit from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit. In January 2024, the Pardons Board cut his sentence to six years and lowered the fine to 50 million ringgit. King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar then issued a conditional pardon. This allows Najib to serve the rest of his time until August 23, 2028, provided the fine is paid.
Najib is currently appealing the conviction and sentence from the second trial. That 15-year sentence will take effect only after his current sentence concludes. He also faces a fine of 11.4 billion ringgit from that second case. If the appeal is unsuccessful, he may return to prison after August 23, 2028. The 1MDB scandal contributed to the 2018 election defeat of the ruling coalition that had governed Malaysia since 1957. Najib retains influence within his party, which is part of the government that took power in 2022.
