PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants all criticisms and condemnations regarding the reduction in jail sentence and fine meted out to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to be stopped and for all quarters to respect the decision of the Pardons Board.
He said the main consideration was not legal matters but the compassion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
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“The main consideration is about mercy, and compassion, or what the former Yang di- Pertuan Agong referred to as the 'fountain of mercy’.
"Whether His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong chooses to explain or not is within His Majesty's prerogative," he said at the monthly assembly with staff of the Prime Minister's Department here on Monday (Feb 5).
Anwar made these remarks in connection with the Pardons Board's decision in granting a 50% reduction in the prison sentence and fine for Najib.
This means that Najib will be released on Aug 23, 2028.
The fine imposed on him has also been reduced to RM50mil from RM210mil.
“However, if the fine is not paid, a year will be added to the jail term, and the release date will then be on Aug 23, 2029,” the Pardons Board secretariat said.
Najib is serving a 12-year sentence after having been found guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in relation to RM42mil that had been siphoned from SRC International, a former 1MBD subsidiary.
He was also fined RM210mil.
The former prime minister is also currently on trial on other charges related to 1MDB.
