KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrived at his residence in Taman Duta here at 9.27pm tonight to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
The former Pekan member of parliament was transported in a silver Proton X70 sports utility vehicle (SUV), accompanied by several vehicles from the Prisons Department and the police.
His arrival was met by dozens of local and international media personnel who had been waiting outside the residence since as early as 9am.
Several police and Prisons Department vehicles were also stationed around the residence as part of security arrangements.
Earlier today, the High Court ordered Najib to serve the remainder of his reduced six-year prison sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case under house arrest at his Jalan Langgak Duta residence, with immediate effect.
High Court judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin made the ruling after setting aside an order issued against Najib by the High Court Criminal Registry on Nov 6.
Under the order, Najib will remain under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, before returning to Kajang Prison on Aug 24, 2028, to serve his separate prison sentence in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
Following the ruling, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Home Ministry was ready to implement the court’s decision.
He said the ministry had always respected the conditional royal pardon granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.
Saifuddin Nasution said the earlier delay in implementation was due to legal questions surrounding the interpretation of the conditional pardon and the implications of the Nov 6 order.
He said the High Court’s latest decision had clarified those questions, adding that the ministry and the Prisons Department would ensure that all decisions concerning detention and sentence enforcement were carried out in accordance with the law and valid court orders.
Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, earlier described the former prime minister as relieved by the ruling, saying he had been waiting for the house arrest arrangement.
Shafee also thanked Sultan Ibrahim for granting Najib the conditional royal pardon.