Najib Has Received House Arrest Order Documents, Mechanism Remains Confidential – Lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has reportedly received documents outlining the mechanism for his house arrest, but he is prohibited from disclosing their contents to the public.

The revelation was made by his defence lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, after the High Court here on Wednesday rejected Najib’s application to stay the execution of his 15-year prison sentence and RM11.4 billion fine in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund misappropriation case.

Shafee added that his client had seen the documents, which also contained an appendix detailing the terms and conditions of the proposed house arrest mechanism.

“Datuk Seri Najib has indeed been shown the order, which also includes an appendix outlining the terms and conditions as well as the mechanism for house arrest.

“However, we cannot tell you, or more precisely, Datuk Seri Najib cannot disclose its contents because he has been instructed by the prison authorities not to reveal them. The documents are for his viewing only.

“The prison authorities are concerned that if the contents are made public, it could lead to various speculations as everyone would start discussing them,” Shafee told reporters at a press conference here on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Shafee also confirmed that the house arrest location specified in the documents was Najib’s residence at No. 11, Langgak Duta.

Last week, Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) director-general at the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Zamri Misman, said the Malaysian Prisons Department had provided Najib with further clarification regarding the house arrest mechanism.

Earlier, on September 19, Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said the Malaysian Prisons Department was expected to prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs) for implementing house arrest for the former Pekan Member of Parliament.

According to him, the SOPs would establish guidelines covering visitation arrangements, security measures and the monitoring of Najib’s movements.

AWANI