Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is in jail following his conviction in the 1MDB corruption scandal, one of the largest financial frauds in history.
He was found guilty of corruption, abuse of power, and money laundering related to the misappropriation of funds from SRC International, a subsidiary of the state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Najib was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million (approximately $46 million) in 2020, with the conviction upheld by Malaysia's highest court in 2022.
The scandal involved billions of dollars being siphoned from 1MDB, some of which were allegedly used to fund luxury purchases and lavish lifestyles.
The Malaysian palace has clarified that clemency applications for crimes committed in the country must be submitted to the Pardons Board, chaired by King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar.
This announcement comes as former prime minister Najib Razak, currently jailed, pursues a bid for house arrest through the courts.
What's the Matter regarding Pardon?
The issue revolves around the process of granting clemency in Malaysia. The Malaysian palace clarified that all clemency applications must go through the Pardons Board, chaired by King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar. This statement was issued as former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is serving a jail sentence, seeks to secure house arrest through legal means.
The clarification raises questions about the legal and procedural boundaries of granting clemency in high-profile cases.
(Original reporting by Bangkok Post. Read the full article here.)
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