Malaysia's top court dismisses appeal against ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid
A supporter of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak outside the Federal Court in Putrajaya, on Aug 13.
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's top court on Aug 13 dismissed an appeal by the Attorney-General to block jailed former prime minister Najib Razak from pursuing access to a royal document that he says would allow him to serve his sentence at home.
Najib,
who has been imprisoned since August 2022 for his role in the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, has said that an addendum order was issued in 2024 as part of a royal pardon by Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah – who was then the King – that
halved the former premier's jail sentence from 12 years to six .
Najib has since been seeking to confirm the existence of and execute the royal order.
The case has stirred intrigue in Malaysia, with multiple government authorities, including members of the pardons board, for months denying knowledge of the royal document despite the former king's office confirming it had been issued.
A three-member panel of the Federal Court, in a unanimous decision on Aug 13, said it accepted the existence of the addendum order, but was not in a position to determine if it was authentic or truly issued as part of the royal pardon.
'We remit the case to the High Court for the hearing of the substantive judicial review proceedings before a new judge,' said Federal Court judge Zabariah Mohd Yusof.
Najib was found guilty in 2020 of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power for illegally receiving funds misappropriated from a unit of state investor 1MDB.
Although some 1MDB-linked charges against him have been dropped, he is still awaiting a verdict in the biggest trial he faces over the scandal, with the court expected to hear closing arguments in October.
Najib has denied all the charges brought against him. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
25 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Peru's Boluarte pardons security forces for abuses during decades-long internal conflict
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Peru's President Dina Boluarte speaks during a press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (not pictured) at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 11, 2025. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/File photo LIMA - Peru President Dina Boluarte signed a law on Wednesday pardoning military and police officers accused of human rights abuses committed from 1980 to 2000 during a bitter fight with leftist rebels. The law, approved by Congress in July, was enacted despite a request from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which urged Peru's government not to pass the bill to ensure "victims can get justice." It also asked courts to not enforce the law. "With the enactment of this pardon law, the Peruvian government and Congress recognize the sacrifice of members of the armed forces, the police and self-defense groups in the fight against terrorism," Boluarte said in a speech. "We're giving them back the dignity that should never have been questioned." According to the national human rights coordinator, the pardon will effectively halt or overturn more than 600 pending trials and 156 sentences against security officials for abuses committed during clashes with insurgent groups like the Shining Path. The conflict resulted in an estimated 69,000 deaths and disappearances. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 dead after fire in Jalan Bukit Merah flat, about 60 evacuated Singapore TB screenings at two pre-schools after staff member diagnosed in July Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide among Singapore's young adults Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Business Haidilao to close Clarke Quay outlet on Aug 31; exit follows 3 earlier outlet closures Singapore Jail, caning for recalcitrant drug offender who assaulted 2 cops with stun device Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story Lawmakers from the right-wing Popular Force party, which backed the measure, argued the law was necessary to end hundreds of trials that have stalled for over two decades without a verdict. The party was founded by the late former president Alberto Fujimori, who died in September. Fujimori had been sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights abuses committed during his presidency before receiving a pardon in 2023. The law comes as Boluarte faces an investigation for the deaths of protesters after she took office in late 2022. Her public approval rating has fallen to historic lows. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
‘Coalition of Willing' leaders set out stance on Ukraine ceasefire pathway
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - Britain, France and Germany, co-chairs of the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing', set out their position on the pathway to a ceasefire in Ukraine in a statement released after a virtual meeting on Aug 13. 'Ukraine must have robust and credible security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity,' said the joint statement, published by Britain two days before a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. 'The Coalition of the Willing is ready to play an active role, including through plans by those willing to deploy a reassurance force once hostilities have ceased. 'No limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with third countries. Russia could not have a veto against Ukraine's pathway to EU and Nato.' REUTERS
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump floats meeting with Putin and Zelensky if initial Putin talks go well
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russia's President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands during a bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that if his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin goes well, he would like to have a quick second meeting with Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and himself. "If the first one goes okay, we'll have a quick second one," Trump told reporters. "I would like to do it almost immediately, and we'll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and President Zelensky and myself, if they'd like to have me there." Trump did not provide a timeframe for a second meeting. He is to meet Putin in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday. Trump also said Russia would face consequences if Putin does not agree to stop the war. "Yes, they will," he said. He did not spell out the consequences but he has warned of stiff economic sanctions if no breakthrough can be achieved. Trump spoke after holding talks via telephone with European leaders and Zelensky about his meeting with Putin. "We had a very good call. He was on the call. President Zelensky was on the call. I would rate it a 10, very friendly," he said. REUTERS
