Published: 14:41, January 6, 2025 | Updated: 17:02, January 6, 2025
Appeal Court grants Malaysian ex-PM Najib more time on house arrest dispute
By Xinhua
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak escorted by prison officers, waves to photographers as the jailed politician leaves the court after court proceedings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Jan 19, 2024. (PHOTO / REUTERS)

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia - Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak obtained leave on Monday to initiate judicial review proceedings to prove the existence of a supplementary order permitting him to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.

The three-panel Court of Appeal bench also allowed Najib's application to put forward new evidence when the merits of the case were heard in the High Court.

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Justice Firuz Jaffril stated that Najib had fulfilled the requirements to introduce new evidence, noting that Najib had written to six respondents on the existence of the purported addendum without a reply from any of them.

Najib was sentenced in July 2020 to 12 years in jail and fined 210 million ringgit for abuse of power related to SRC International, a former unit of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

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In February last year, Najib was granted a reduced sentence from 12 years to six years, and his fine was cut from 210 million ringgit ($44.4 million) to 50 million ringgit (10.6 million dollars).

Following this, Najib filed an application on Dec. 5 last year for leave to adduce additional evidence in his appeal to support his claim of a royal addendum allowing the remainder of his six-year prison sentence to be served under house arrest.