Najib Razak’s legal team confirms appeal after court rejects house arrest bid; ex-PM stays in prison
PETALING JAYA: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will contest the Kuala Lumpur High Court decision that rejected his application to complete his prison sentence under house arrest, his legal counsel confirmed on December 22.
Senior lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah reportedly informed the court immediately after the ruling that his client had given clear directions to proceed with an appeal against the decision.
The ruling means Najib must remain at Kajang Prison to serve out his six-year term, with the court upholding the original custodial requirements of his sentence.
Justice Alice Loke Yee Ching had determined that a purported supplementary order from the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong allowing house arrest was constitutionally invalid, as it failed to comply with Article 42 of the Federal Constitution and was never deliberated by the 61st Federal Territories Pardons Board.
READ ALSO: Najib Razak house arrest plea dismissed by High Court
“My client’s instructions are unambiguous — we are taking this to appeal,” Shafee stated in court, outlining the next phase of Najib’s legal battle.
The 72-year-old former leader has been imprisoned since August 23, 2022, following his conviction for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds. His original 12-year sentence was reduced to six years in 2024 by the Pardons Board, which also lowered his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
The case continues to draw significant domestic and international scrutiny, given Najib’s prominent role in Malaysian politics and the broader 1MDB corruption scandal.
Legal observers note that the appeal will likely extend the legal proceedings considerably, while also reigniting discussions about how Malaysia’s justice system handles cases involving former high-ranking officials.
The ruling and subsequent appeal underscore ongoing national conversations about judicial independence, the limits of royal prerogative powers, and the enforcement of criminal sentences for political figures.
Najib’s legal team had argued that the government was obligated to implement an addendum order for house arrest, claiming authorities were in contempt for failing to do so. However, the court found no constitutional basis for such an order to exist.
