Malaysia's Ex-PM Najib to Leave Prison After Party Pays $12.3 Million

Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak is set to move from prison to house arrest after his political party paid a 50 million ringgit ($12.3 million) fine, fulfilling a key condition attached to his royal pardon.

The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Najib’s political party, confirmed on Friday that it had completed the payment at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur. The money was raised through a donation drive organised to secure the former prime minister’s transfer to house arrest.

Najib, 73, has been behind bars since August 2022, when Malaysia’s top court upheld his conviction in a corruption case linked to the multibillion-dollar looting of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The scandal, which involved billions of dollars allegedly siphoned from the state fund, triggered a major political crisis in Malaysia and severely damaged Najib’s government. He was convicted in connection with the misuse of funds and subsequently began serving his prison sentence.

In September, Malaysia’s king granted Najib rare royal clemency, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest. However, the arrangement was subject to conditions, including payment of the substantial fine.

UMNO secretary-general Asyraf Wajid Dusuki said the party had collected sufficient contributions and completed the required payment on Friday.

The exact timing of Najib’s transfer from prison to his residence remained unclear. Police personnel were deployed outside his Kuala Lumpur home early Friday, while the road leading to the property was blocked.

The development marks a significant change in the imprisonment of a former Malaysian leader whose conviction in the 1MDB scandal became one of the country’s most high-profile corruption cases.