KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak began serving the rest of his reduced prison sentence under house arrest on Tuesday, November 10. The Kuala Lumpur High Court approved the transfer after issuing a revised order.
Najib arrived at his home in the Taman Duta neighbourhood at about 9:30 p.m. Police and prison department vehicles escorted him from prison.
High Court Judge Aslam Zainuddin ordered Najib to serve the remaining part of his six-year sentence in the SRC International case at home. The arrangement will continue until August 23, 2028.
The ruling settled a legal dispute over a conditional royal pardon granted by Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim, in September. The pardon allows Najib to serve the rest of that sentence at home, subject to specific conditions.
High Court Replaces Earlier Release Order
The court issued the new ruling after the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) asked it to review an earlier order dated November 6.
Najib had paid the RM50 million fine in the SRC International case that day. The earlier order allowed his release after payment.
However, the AGC warned that the wording could suggest that Najib no longer had to serve any part of his remaining prison sentence. The agency said the order needed to make clear that he would serve the term under house arrest instead.
The distinction mattered because Najib also faces a separate prison sentence in another case linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
The AGC asked the court to ensure that the implementation of the royal pardon would not affect that separate sentence.
Judge Aslam then cancelled the November 6 order and replaced it with a new one. The revised order requires Najib to serve the rest of his reduced SRC International sentence under house arrest at his Langgak Duta residence.
Royal Pardon Reduced Sentence and Fine
Najib originally received a 12-year prison sentence and a RM210 million fine after his conviction in the SRC International case. The case involved the misappropriation of RM42 million.
In January 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board cut his prison term to six years. It also reduced his fine to RM50 million.
On September 18, 2026, Sultan Ibrahim granted Najib a further conditional pardon. It allowed him to serve the remaining part of his sentence under house arrest.
The arrangement required Najib to pay the reduced fine and follow the conditions attached to the pardon.
He paid the RM50 million fine on November 6. This fulfilled the financial requirement.
However, the AGC’s request for legal clarification delayed his transfer until the High Court issued the revised order.
House Arrest Does Not Cover Separate 1MDB Sentence
The court’s decision does not cancel Najib’s separate prison sentence in another 1MDB-related case.
Under the new order, Najib will remain under house arrest until August 23, 2028. He must return to Kajang Prison the following day to begin serving his separate sentence.
In December 2025, Najib received a 15-year prison sentence in another case involving corruption and money laundering linked to 1MDB.
He is appealing both the conviction and the sentence.
The house-arrest arrangement applies only to his reduced sentence in the SRC International case. It does not free him from the separate prison term.
Royal Pardon Sparks Dispute Over Legal Process
The implementation of Najib’s conditional pardon led to a public disagreement over how authorities should carry out the King’s decision.
After the AGC delayed the transfer on November 6, Sultan Ibrahim publicly insisted that officials must respect and implement the conditional pardon under the Constitution.
The AGC said it was not challenging the King’s authority to grant a pardon. Instead, it said it wanted the court to clarify the wording of the release order.
The revised ruling has now established the legal arrangement for Najib to serve his remaining SRC International sentence at home.
However, his separate 1MDB conviction and sentence remain subject to the appeal process.
Primary Sources: Malaysian Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) — Statement on the Temporary Deferment of Najib Razak’s House Arrest, November 6, 2026. Explains the legal questions concerning the conditional pardon, payment of the RM50 million fine and the effect of the earlier release order. Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister’s Department — Statement on the Conditional Royal Pardon Granted to Najib Razak, September 18, 2026. Confirms the King’s decision allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to payment of the fine and compliance with the conditions. Kuala Lumpur High Court — Revised Order in the SRC International Case, November 10, 2026, issued by Judge Aslam Zainuddin. Replaces the November 6 order and directs Najib to serve his remaining reduced sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028. The complete signed court order was not independently retrieved; its terms are documented through national news agency court reporting.
