Anwar disagrees with Umno paying RM50mil fine for Najib

 Umno today settled Najib Razak’s RM50 million fine through funds raised from a donation drive launched in September.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today he does not want the public to think that large-scale corruption can go unpunished. (Bernama pic)

AMPANG:

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he disagrees with Umno paying Najib Razak’s RM50 million fine, which has paved the way for the former prime minister to serve the remainder of his graft conviction under house arrest.

Former Umno president Najib was granted a house arrest order by the Kuala Lumpur High Court today after Umno paid his RM50 million fine using funds collected through a donation drive launched in September.

“My personal view is that I disagree with this as it could give the public the impression that large-scale corruption can go unpunished,” Anwar told reporters after Friday prayers here.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced earlier today that the party had settled the fine through funds raised from a donation drive launched in September.

Najib’s lawyer Farhan Shafee later confirmed that the fine had been paid, and he would deliver the house arrest order to Kajang prison – where Najib has been held since 2022.

Najib was jailed in August 2022 after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.

He was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million.

In January 2024, a royal pardon halved his prison sentence and reduced his fine to RM50 million.

In September this year, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, granted Najib a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.

The release was subject to Najib’s payment of the RM50 million fine and his compliance with all other stipulated conditions. - FMT