Malaysian Court Rejects Najib Razak's House Arrest Appeal

Background on 1MDB Scandal

The Kuala Lumpur High Court made a significant decision on Monday, December 22, 2025, by rejecting the appeal of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest ²

. Najib has been serving a six-year prison sentence since 2022 after being convicted in connection with the massive 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal. The 1MDB scandal is one of the largest corruption cases in Malaysian history, involving the misappropriation of billions of dollars from a state-owned investment fund.

Legal Proceedings and Court Ruling

The court's decision to deny Najib's house arrest appeal was based on the finding that the royal pardon, which had commuted his original 12-year sentence to six years, was not processed according to the proper legal procedures ²

. This technicality was central to the court's ruling, as it determined that the conditions attached to the royal pardon were not legally binding.

Implications of the Court's Decision

The rejection of Najib's appeal marks a critical moment in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the 1MDB scandal. It demonstrates the Malaysian judiciary's commitment to upholding the rule of law, even in high-profile cases involving former officials. The decision also reflects the government's stance on corruption, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration signaling its dedication to ensuring that justice is served.