Najib’s Pardon Back on Pardons Board Agenda Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application for a pardon is back on the agenda of the Federal Territories Pardons Board, which is scheduled to meet again today, just a week after the matter was deferred.

According to a report by The Straits Times (ST), the meeting is expected to focus entirely on Najib’s pardon application. He is currently serving a prison sentence following his conviction in the SRC International Sdn Bhd misappropriation case.

Sources cited by the newspaper described the scheduling of the special meeting as unusual, as Pardons Board meetings are typically arranged through a more comprehensive process involving multiple agenda items.

According to the sources, it is rare for a meeting to be held within such a short period after the previous sitting, particularly when only one matter is to be discussed.

On Sept 11, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by Sultan Ibrahim, Yang di-Pertuan Agong, met to consider several matters, including Najib’s application for a pardon over his conviction in the SRC International case.

However, the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister’s Department said the application was deferred to the next meeting following a decision made at the 63rd Pardons Board Meeting for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

Najib was convicted in July 2020 on seven charges related to the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds and was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million.

The conviction and sentence were subsequently upheld by the Federal Court in August 2022, after which he began serving his prison sentence.

On Feb 2, 2024, the Pardons Board Secretariat announced that Najib had been granted a 50 per cent reduction in his prison sentence from 12 years to six years, while his fine was reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.

Developments surrounding today’s meeting are expected to continue drawing public attention, as any decision reached could have significant implications for the sentence currently being served by the former prime minister.

Astro AWANI