On Monday, December 22, 2025, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed jailed ex-premier Najib Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, ruling that a royal document authorizing the move was invalid due to procedural flaws.
Najib, imprisoned since August 2022 for his role in the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal, argued that a pardon issued by the then-king last year entitled him to finish his sentence at home. He sought a court order compelling authorities to confirm and execute the royal decree.
Judge Alice Loke agreed that the order’s existence was not in dispute but determined that the former king had failed to consult the country’s pardons board as required by law, rendering the document invalid.
The ruling leaves Najib, who has consistently denied all charges, in custody as he prepares for his biggest trial later this week, with judgment expected on Friday, December 26, 2025.
Reference(s):
Malaysian ex-PM Najib loses bid to serve sentence under house arrest
cgtn.com
