Najib gets his clemency, but still has to serve jail time

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak will be released from jail on Aug 23, 2028, after the Pardons Board commuted his 12-year prison sentence by half.

The RM210mil fine that he was supposed to pay has also been reduced to RM50mil.

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“However, if the fine is not paid, one year will be added to his jail time and the release date will be on Aug 23, 2029,” said the Pardons Board secretariat.

The former prime minister was sent to Kajang Prison on Aug 23, 2022, after being convicted of misappropriating RM42mil in SRC International funds.

SRC is a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

He was found guilty by the High Court on July 8, 2020, of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

On Sept 2, 2022, he filed a petition for a royal pardon.

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The Pardons Board said in a statement yesterday that the Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya Federal Territories Pardons Board had met on Monday over five pardon applications, including Najib’s.

The meeting was chaired by then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, whose reign as the king ended on Tuesday.

Najib has three remaining cases in the High Court.

He is currently on trial to answer charges of abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28bil, believed to have been 1MDB funds.

The trial, currently at the prosecution stage, will resume next Monday.

The former Pekan MP is also facing six charges of criminal breach of trust involving government funds of RM6.6bil to pay International Petroleum Investment Company.

The trial will begin in June.

Besides this, Najib is facing three charges of money laundering by accepting proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM27mil, monies believed to be linked to SRC International, at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The trial is set to begin on Sept 17.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision on Najib was the Pardons Board’s prerogative.

“That (decision) is the prerogative of the Pardons Board and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he told reporters after Friday prayers at Masjid Jamek here before the statement was issued.

He did not comment when asked if the decision would affect the unity government.