Najib Razak’s Bid for House Arrest Denied by Malaysian Court
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been unsuccessful in his attempt to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. A court in Kuala Lumpur has ruled against his petition, stating that a royal order facilitating this move was invalid due to procedural irregularities. This decision means the 72-year-old will continue his incarceration for charges related to money laundering and abuse of power.
Najib Razak is currently serving a sentence for his involvement in the diversion of approximately $9.9 million from a Malaysian state investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), into his personal bank accounts. His jail term, originally set at 12 years, was halved, and he is scheduled for release in 2028.
The 1MDB Scandal: A Deep Dive
The 1MDB scandal stands as one of the most significant corruption cases in recent global history. Najib Razak, who served as Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2009 to 2018, launched the 1MDB fund in 2009 with the stated aim of driving economic development and attracting investment. However, over the ensuing years, a vast sum exceeding $4.5 billion was allegedly siphoned off by senior officials and their associates.
Investigations by the U.S. Justice Department revealed that this colossal amount was laundered through intricate networks of bank accounts across the United States and other international jurisdictions. The illicit funds were reportedly used for a variety of purposes, including substantial gambling losses in Las Vegas casinos, financing a Hollywood film, and acquiring luxury assets such as private jets, yachts, fine art, and expensive jewelry.
The scale of the alleged illicit acquisitions became starkly apparent following Najib’s loss in the 2018 general election. A police search of properties linked to the former prime minister uncovered an astonishing collection: 1,400 necklaces, 567 handbags, 423 watches, 2,200 rings, 1,600 brooches, and 14 tiaras. This was in addition to nearly $27 million in cash, with the total estimated value of the seized items reaching approximately $273 million. Much of this opulent collection was reportedly owned by Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor.
Legal Proceedings and the Court’s Ruling
Najib Razak was initially sentenced in 2020 after being found guilty of multiple charges, including abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering. These convictions stemmed from the misappropriation of funds from a 1MDB subsidiary into his personal accounts.
The recent court decision hinged on a royal order issued in 2024, which would have permitted Najib to serve his sentence at home. While the court did not question the existence of this order, it deemed it invalid because the then-king had not consulted the Pardons Board prior to its issuance, a step deemed necessary by constitutional requirements. The court’s ruling emphasized that the king should have followed the established constitutional process. Consequently, Najib Razak must remain incarcerated to complete his sentence.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
The former prime minister faces further legal scrutiny. A separate graft trial against Najib is scheduled to conclude with a court decision on Friday. This trial involves four charges of abuse of power, alleging that he obtained over $700 million from 1MDB that was deposited into his bank accounts, alongside 21 counts of money laundering related to the same sum.
If convicted in this second trial, Najib could face severe penalties, including up to 20 years in prison for each abuse of power charge and up to five years for each money laundering charge. This ongoing legal battle underscores the far-reaching implications of the 1MDB scandal and its continued impact on Malaysia’s political and judicial landscape.
