Bank Accounts Frozen, Najib Unable to Pay RM50 Million Fine – Lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak is currently unable to pay the RM50 million fine imposed as one of the conditions for him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest, according to his lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

He said his client’s current financial situation does not allow him to raise the amount following the freezing of several of his accounts.

“Najib’s bank accounts have been frozen, including his Affin Bank account, which he said was previously used to receive his salary as Prime Minister and Member of Parliament,” he said.

Muhammad Shafee said this at a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex while explaining developments related to the implementation of Najib’s conditional pardon and his application for a stay of sentence in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.

In a separate development, Muhammad Shafee said the former Prime Minister had never sought donations from the public to pay the RM50 million fine.

He added that Najib was in a difficult position as he was required to pay the RM50 million fine as one of the conditions of the pardon but, at the same time, did not have the financial means to settle the amount.

“He is in a difficult position because he is supposed to pay, but he does not have the money,” he said.

Najib’s application for a stay of his 15-year prison sentence in the 1MDB case will be heard by the High Court on Oct 14.

Najib is currently serving a prison sentence in the SRC International case and was previously granted a conditional pardon which, among other things, reduced his prison term and imposed conditions relating to the fine.

Astro Awani