In brief
After paying a 50-million‑ringgit fine and undergoing a medical exam, Najib Razak was re‑imprisoned at Kajang Prison on Friday. Malaysia’s Attorney General’s Chambers deferred the planned house arrest pending legal review, keeping him in detention for the time being.
Five days after a court decision, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak returned to Kajang Prison on Friday evening following a medical examination in Kuala Lumpur. The move came after he paid the 50‑million‑ringgit fine linked to the SRC International case, and after A‑G's office postponed the planned switch to house arrest.
At 2 p.m. on Friday, Najib was escorted to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a routine health check as required by Malaysian law before a non‑violent prisoner could be relocated. The examination was completed in the afternoon, after which he was transported back to his cells in Kajang on a private vehicle that appeared to still be in custody.
Earlier that day, his special officer, Ahmad Lutfi Azhar, arrived at the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s criminal registry to confirm the payment of the fine. According to a statement released by the court, the payment fulfilled one of the conditions attached to Najib’s conditional pardon, allowing him to comply with the financial component of his sentence.
Najib’s lawyer, Farhan Shafee, said that the court had issued a house‑arrest order at the time of the payment. However, no official ceremony for the switch took place, as the conditions for relocation and the legal framework still required further clarification before the order could be executed.
Later Friday, the Attorney General’s Chambers released a statement saying that the implementation of the house‑arrest order had been temporarily deferred pending ‘further legal clarification’ on the royal pardon. The government reiterated that Najib should remain at his current facility subject to any instructions from relevant authorities until a definitive order is issued.
Najib has been imprisoned since August 2022 for abuse of power in the SRC International scandal, a former arm of Malaysia’s state investment fund 1MDB. In 2024, his original 12‑year sentence was reduced to six years and the fine was lowered from 210 million ringgit to 50 million ringgit, paving the way for the conditional pardon granted in September.
The conditional pardon, granted by Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Department in September, allowed Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, subject to the payment of the 50‑million‑ringgit fine and other conditions. The deferment indicates that the Royal Commission reviewing the pardon had not yet finalized its recommendations.
After his return to prison, a vehicle believed to be carrying Najib was later observed leaving the Kajang facility, echoing earlier reports that he would be transferred imminently. Authorities declined to confirm the vehicle’s affiliation, but local media noted that the departure coincided with the pending legal clarifications announced by the Attorney General.
With Najib’s release status uncertain, the Malaysian public and international observers remain focused on the next legal steps that will determine whether the former leader will ultimately serve the final portions of his sentence at home under house arrest or remain in solitary confinement until the Royal Commission’s verdict is issued.