JustUpdateOnline.com – KUALA LUMPUR, Najib Razak, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, has officially exited Kajang Prison to serve the remainder of his sentence within the confines of his residence. This move follows the full payment of a RM50 million (approximately Rp224 billion) fine, which was a primary requirement of his royal pardon.
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) announced on Friday that the substantial financial penalty was submitted to the Kuala Lumpur High Court during the morning hours. The funds were secured through a public "Solidarity Fund" launched in September, which successfully met its target. UMNO Secretary-General Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki confirmed that the fundraising campaign has now concluded as the necessary amount has been raised.
Najib, 73, was observed leaving the prison complex at approximately 2:37 PM in a silver sedan. His departure was marked by a security detail consisting of several escort vehicles and a van from the Malaysian Prison Department. While his legal team, led by Farhan Shafee, confirmed that the necessary paperwork for the transfer had been processed, his specific destination remained officially unconfirmed.
However, preparations were visible at his luxury estate on Jalan Langgak Duta. Local reports indicated that police had cordoned off the area with yellow tape and traffic cones by midday. Authorities also established temporary tents and stationed patrol units near the entrance to manage potential crowds and ensure security.
The former leader, who governed Malaysia from 2009 to 2018, has been in custody since 2022. His original conviction involved a 12-year prison sentence and a RM210 million fine related to the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International, a former unit of the 1MDB state fund. Najib has consistently denied any criminal involvement in the matter.
In early 2024, the Malaysian Pardons Board intervened, reducing his jail term to six years and slashing the fine to RM50 million. Subsequently, a conditional pardon granted by King Sultan Ibrahim allowed for the transition to house arrest, provided the financial penalty was settled. Under the current arrangement, Najib is expected to remain under residential detention until his anticipated release date in August 2028.
