World · Malaysia Bureau
Najib still awaiting official pardon notification, legal team confirms
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak has not yet received formal documentation of a conditional pardon announced last week, according to his legal representative. The prisons department has similarly not received official notice of the decision.
LSN Malaysia ·
Najib Razak's lawyer Shafee Abdullah said Monday that neither his client nor the prisons department has received official notification of the conditional pardon that was announced last week. The absence of formal documentation means the pardon has not yet taken legal effect, despite the public announcement of the decision.
Shafee said the legal team is awaiting the official paperwork to be processed through proper channels. The conditional pardon, which would reduce Najib's sentence, requires formal notification to be fully implemented and recognised by the correctional authorities.
The former Prime Minister is serving a 12-year sentence following his 2023 conviction on corruption charges related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. The conditional pardon would significantly shorten his time in custody pending other legal proceedings.
The delay in receiving official notification is not uncommon in such cases, as bureaucratic processes typically require documentation to be formally transmitted between the relevant authorities. Once the formal notice is received, the prisons department will be required to adjust Najib's custody status accordingly.