Malaysian Ex-PM Najib Leaves Jail For House Arrest After Paying Fine

详细摘要

Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak left prison on Friday, an AFP reporter saw, after his party said he paid a $12 million ...

Kuala Lumpur—Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak left prison on Friday, an AFP reporter saw, after his party said he paid a $12 million fine allowing him to serve the rest of his corruption sentence under house arrest.

The 73-year-old former leader was jailed for his role in one of the largest-ever global plunders of a sovereign wealth fund, the now-defunct 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

But King Sultan Ibrahim granted him a conditional pardon in September, allowing him to serve out the rest of his sentence at home provided he pay the fine.

"UMNO has completed all payment processes to the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning," the United Malays National Organisation said in a statement on Friday, referring to the 50 million ringgit ($12 million) penalty.

"UMNO hereby officially closes the special Najib Razak Solidarity Fund account, which was established to receive public contributions. There is no longer a need for public crowdfunding for this purpose."

Najib's aide, Ahmad Lutfi Azhar, also confirmed the payment and the former leader's lawyer Farhan Shafee said they had already obtained papers to transfer the former leader out of jail.

Shortly afterwards, an AFP reporter saw a silver car with Najib inside leaving the Kajang Prison compound, followed by a convoy of vehicles.

The road leading to Najib's upmarket residence was cordoned off with yellow police tape and traffic cones blocking access to the area, an AFP journalist saw at around noon.

Police had parked patrol cars and mobile vans as well as set up two tents near the entrance to the road, in preparation for crowd control.

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