Was house arrest part of Najib’s pardon, Ismail Sabri asks in Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) wants the government to disclose if house arrest was included as part of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s royal pardon application.

“I was made to understand that aside from a royal pardon, there was an appeal for him to be transferred from being detained at the Kajang prison to house arrest. I was made to understand this was included as an attachment in the pardon petition.

“Is this true or not? If yes, was it discussed when the pardon application was presented and what was the decision?” the Bera MP asked when debating the motion of thanks on the Royal Address in Parliament on Thursday (March 7).

On Feb 2, the Pardons Board announced that it had decided to commute convicted former prime minister Najib’s jail term from 12 years to six.

According to a statement by the board, Najib will be released on Aug 23, 2028, and the fine has 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 on Feb 2.