KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s High Court delivered a stinging blow to former Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday, rejecting his bid to serve the rest of his prison term under house arrest in the SRC International corruption case. Judge Alice Loke ruled that a claimed addendum from the previous king, allowing home confinement, held no legal weight without Pardons Board approval, as mandated by Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.
Declassified minutes from the board’s January 2024 meeting confirmed only a sentence reduction from 12 years and RM210 million fine to six years and RM50 million, no mention of house arrest. Najib, 72, has been imprisoned in Kajang since August 2022 for abusing power, breach of trust, and laundering RM42 million linked to 1MDB subsidiary SRC. His lawyer, Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah, vowed an appeal and hinted at a fresh pardon request to current King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar. Shafee warned the verdict curbs the Malay Rulers’ clemency powers, sparking outrage among supporters.
In a packed courtroom, Najib sat with wife Rosmah Mansor and sons, visibly emotional post-ruling. Dozens rallied outside chanting for his release, while UMNO youth chief Akmal Saleh decried the decision on Facebook, urging Barisan Nasional to withdraw government support and rally at the party’s January 2026 assembly. Analyst Amir Fareed Rahim of KRA Group hailed the ruling for upholding constitutional checks, easing political tensions ahead of Najib’s 1MDB main trial verdict on December 26, where he faces charges over RM2.2 billion in alleged fund theft. The decision keeps Najib behind bars for now, reinforcing judicial oversight in Malaysia’s landmark graft saga.