Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could be placed under house arrest as early as tomorrow, depending on the outcome of a High Court decision scheduled for this morning.
The ruling concerns Najib’s legal bid to enforce a purported royal addendum, which he claims allows him to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence at home instead of in Kajang Prison.
Najib, the former Umno president, filed a judicial review in April last year seeking to compel enforcement of the alleged addendum. Judge Datuk Alice Loke is set to deliver her decision at 9am. If the court rules in Najib’s favour, he could be released immediately to his residence in Jalan Langgak Duta.
However, a source from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said the prosecution would file an appeal should the ruling favour Najib, a move that could delay his release.
Najib’s lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said at a press conference on Thursday that although the AGC may appeal, such action should not prevent his client’s immediate release. He stressed that the case directly involves Najib’s personal liberty and that any delay would be unjustified.
Najib has been incarcerated at Kajang Prison since 2022, after the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal in the SRC International case involving the misappropriation of RM42 million.
Separately, Najib’s legal troubles continue this week as the High Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Friday in his 1MDB corruption trial involving the alleged misappropriation of RM2.3 billion. If convicted and no stay of execution is granted, he would be required to return to prison immediately.
In the 1MDB case, Najib faces four charges of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering.
