Najib filed fresh pardon application, says source

2026-03-26 - 05:30

Former prime minister Najib Razak is serving his SRC International jail sentence which will end on Aug 23, 2028, after which a second sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment handed down in his 1MDB case will kick in. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Jailed former prime minister Najib Razak has filed a fresh application for clemency to the Federal Territories Pardon Board (FTPB), a source says. The source said the application was made during Ramadan, with a copy extended to Istana Negara. “It is unclear if the application is confined to the SRC International Sdn Bhd or 1MDB case, or both, but it asks that Najib be absolved of all criminal acts,” the source told FMT. When asked for confirmation, lawyer Farhan Shafee, a member of Najib’s civil and criminal defence teams, told FMT he was unaware of any such application. FMT has contacted Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar for his response. Under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites, and presides over FTPB meetings. The FTPM board comprise the attorney-general, the federal territories minister and up to three other members appointed by the king. On Dec 22, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his jail term in his SRC International conviction under house arrest in accordance with a royal addendum issued by the former king. Najib, who claimed the government was obliged to execute the royal order, is appealing the decision. Najib, 72, was convicted six years ago of misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds. He was fined RM210 million and sentenced to 12 years, which he has been serving at Kajang prison since Aug 23, 2022. The FTPB later halved his prison term to six years and reduced the fine to RM50 million. On Dec 24, another High Court in Kuala Lumpur found Najib guilty of four charges of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering involving funds totalling RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014. Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah sentenced Najib to 15 years’ jail, to begin on Aug 23, 2028, immediately after his SRC International sentence ends. He also imposed a fine of about RM11.4 billion. Najib is appealing the decision. Lawyer Abdul Rashid Ismail said the Prisons Act and regulations imposed no time limit barring an applicant from filing for royal clemency. “The law only states that a petition can be made ‘as soon as practicable’,” he said.