Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib reportedly prepares to pay $15.7 million fine for house arrest

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak is expected to pay the 50 million ringgit (S$15.7 million) fine imposed on him, which would allow him to serve the remainder of his prison time under house arrest.Unnamed sources have said that the payment would be made by representatives of the former Pekan MP.When met by reporters at the court complex, one of Najib’s lawyers, Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, however said that the defence has no instructions on the matter thus far.“I am unsure of the current status. I haven’t received any instructions with regard to the fine,” he said.Najib was sentenced by the High Court in July 2020 to 12 years’ jail and fined 210 million ringgit after being convicted on seven charges involving 42 million ringgit in SRC International funds.The conviction and sentence were upheld by the Court of Appeal in December 2021 and the Federal Court in August 2022.At its 61st meeting on Jan 29, 2024, the Pardons Board reduced Najib’s prison term from 12 years to six and his fine from 210 million ringgit to 50 million ringgit.On Sept 18, it was reported that the King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, had granted Najib a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.The order, however, was conditional upon Najib paying the 50 million ringgit fine.Shortly after, UMNO launched the “Najib Razak Solidarity Fund” to crowdfund the 50 million ringgit amount as Najib’s personal and family assets remain frozen.On Sept 25, his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the press that Najib did not have the 50 million ringgit to secure his house arrest. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK