Najib Razak has withdrawn an appeal challenging a court ruling that denied his request to serve the remainder of his six‑year sentence under house arrest, local media reported. The Court of Appeal acknowledged the withdrawal in letters dated April 3 and April 6. The move follows a 2024 pardons board decision that halved his sentence and a separate December conviction that added 15 years and a $2.8 billion fine in the ongoing 1MDB saga.
Najib Withdraws Appeal for House Arrest After Court Denies Home Detention Bid
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak, jailed for corruption in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, attends the verdict of his house arrest bid at Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia December 22, 2025. REUTERS/ Hasnoor Hussain
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has withdrawn his appeal against a court ruling that denied his request to serve the remainder of his prison sentence at home, local outlet The Edge reported on Monday citing court documents.
Najib has been serving a six-year jail term since August 2022 following convictions for graft and money‑laundering tied to the multibillion‑dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
What Happened
According to letters from Najib's lawyers and a notification from the Court of Appeal dated April 3 and April 6, Najib withdrew his appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision that rejected his petition for home detention. The withdrawal was made "without liberty to file a fresh appeal," the paperwork shows.
Background
- Najib launched the bid for home detention after a pardons board chaired by Malaysia's former king halved his sentence in 2024.
- Najib says the pardons board's decision included an addendum, issued by the king, permitting him to serve the rest of his sentence at home; he alleges authorities ignored that addendum.
- The Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected Najib's house arrest plea on December 22, 2024, and Najib subsequently appealed that ruling before withdrawing the appeal in April.
Legal Setbacks and Wider Allegations
The withdrawal is another legal setback for Najib. In December he was convicted in the largest 1MDB-related trial to date and sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison and fined $2.8 billion for abuse of power and money‑laundering.
Malaysian and U.S. investigators say at least $4.5 billion was misappropriated from the 1MDB fund, with more than $1 billion allegedly routed into accounts linked to Najib. Najib has consistently denied criminal wrongdoing, while apologizing for aspects of the scandal he says were mishandled.
Requests for comment to Najib's lawyers and the Attorney General's Chambers were not immediately returned, according to the report.
Sources: The Edge (court documents); reporting by Danial Azhar; editing by David Stanway.
Help us improve.
