AGC: Najib's house arrest bid must go through Pardons Board

 

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his jail sentence at home must go through the proper channel, namely the Pardons Board.

In a statement today, Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) said it has been decreed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar that all pleas for clemency for crimes committed in the Federal Territories must follow the correct procedure and not through any other means.

This is to avoid the king’s decision based on the advice of the Pardons Board being challenged in court.

“Therefore, if anyone wishes to propose for any prisoner including Najib to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest, the relevant application should be made for consideration of the Pardons Board that would be chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in accordance with the procedures and channels set out by laws and regulations in force,” said the AGC in a statement today.

Najib was previously sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and fined RM210 million after being found guilty of corruption in the RM42 million SRC International case.

Following a meeting on Jan 29, the Pardons Board decided to reduce his sentence to six years imprisonment and a RM50 million fine.

However, it has been alleged the board’s chairperson at the time, the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, had also made a supplementary order for Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence at home.

Najib has filed for a judicial review to compel the government to reveal whether the order exists, and if so, to carry out the order.

The next hearing is expected on Jan 6 next year. - Mkini