Malaysian King and Prosecutor in Dispute Over Najib Razak's Release

The King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, has stated that the Prosecutor General may be disregarding a royal order by delaying the release of former Prime Minister Najib Razak from prison. Najib Razak has been serving a six-year prison sentence since 2022 for his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal. The scandal led to investigations in several countries, including the US, Switzerland, and Singapore.

The 1MDB scandal involved the embezzlement of hundreds of millions of dollars from a sovereign fund meant for Malaysia's economic development. The fund was used for private expenses, such as a luxury yacht and art pieces. This led to Najib Razak's defeat in the 2018 general elections. Sultan Ibrahim granted Najib Razak a conditional pardon in September, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, provided he paid a $12 million fine.

Najib Razak's party announced on Friday that the fine had been paid, a condition for his release from prison and transfer to house arrest. However, the Prosecutor General's office blocked the move, citing the need for further clarification on the pardon. Sultan Ibrahim responded on Saturday, stating that there was no ambiguity in the pardon and that it was unconditional.

The King's statement emphasized that there should be no confusion in interpreting the royal order. He added that the conditional pardon was not related to any other case against Najib Razak. The former Prime Minister was also sentenced to 15 years in prison in December for abuse of power and money laundering in a separate case, a sentence that is to be served after his current six-year term.

Najib Razak's lawyers thanked the King on Saturday, stating that there was no justification for further detention. They demanded that he be transferred immediately to his residence to serve his sentence under house arrest. The Prosecutor General's office responded, refuting any challenge to the King's authority but did not indicate whether Najib Razak would be released immediately.

The Prosecutor General's office justified its actions as a necessary step to avoid conflict in executing existing orders and to ensure that no sentence was carried out unlawfully. On Friday, Najib Razak was seen leaving Kajang prison in a convoy of vehicles, only to re-enter the prison shortly after.

The dispute between the King and the Prosecutor General highlights the complexities of Malaysia's justice system. The situation remains uncertain, with Najib Razak's release from prison hanging in the balance.

Key points

• The King of Malaysia has stated that the Prosecutor General may be disregarding a royal order by delaying the release of former Prime Minister Najib Razak from prison.
• Najib Razak was granted a conditional pardon by the King in September, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
• The Prosecutor General's office has blocked the release, citing the need for further clarification on the pardon.