Najib Razak transferred from Kajang Prison to house arrest after UMNO settles RM50 million fine

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was escorted out of Kajang Prison on 6 November 2026 and placed under house arrest after a fine of RM50 million was settled by his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party. The transfer was witnessed by an AFP reporter who saw Najib in a silver car followed by a convoy, while police cordoned the route to his residence with tape and traffic cones.

The fine payment fulfilled the conditions of a conditional pardon granted by King Sultan Ibrahim in September 2026. The royal decree allowed Najib to serve the balance of his corruption sentence at home provided the outstanding penalty was cleared. UMNO announced that it had completed the payment to the Kuala Lumpur High Court on the morning of 6 November, and that the special Najib Razak Solidarity Fund – set up for public contributions – was now closed.

Background

Najib Razak, now 73, was first convicted in July 2020 for his role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, receiving a 12‑year prison term for the siphoning of funds from the state‑owned sovereign wealth fund and its subsidiary SRC International. A later pardons board halved his term and reduced the associated fine to RM50 million. In late 2025 a judge rejected an earlier request for house arrest, but the September 2026 royal pardon superseded that decision. A separate trial later sentenced Najib to an additional 15 years for related graft offences, extending the overall legal exposure.

UMNO, the party that once led Malaysia’s government under Najib, created a "solidarity fund" to collect public donations for the fine. By early November the fund had reached its target, prompting the party to announce the closure of the account and the completion of the payment process.

Why it matters

The move to house arrest ends Najib’s physical confinement but does not absolve him of the broader legal and financial repercussions of the 1MDB scandal, which remains one of the largest global sovereign‑wealth fund plunders. The fine settlement demonstrates UMNO’s capacity to mobilise significant resources, reflecting continued political support for Najib among certain segments of the party’s base. It also signals the Malaysian authorities’ willingness to enforce the conditions of the royal pardon, balancing judicial decisions with executive clemency.

The case continues to affect multiple stakeholders: victims of the 1MDB misappropriation, current government officials seeking to distance themselves from past corruption, and international observers monitoring Malaysia’s anti‑corruption reforms. The ongoing investigations into fugitive financier Jho Low, who remains at large, underscore the unresolved dimensions of the scandal.

What happens next

Under the terms of the conditional pardon, Najib will remain under house arrest until the completion of his sentence, scheduled for August 2028. Police have established a perimeter around his upmarket Kuala Lumpur residence and will monitor compliance with the house‑arrest conditions. UMNO’s statement indicated that all legal paperwork for the transfer had been secured, and Najib’s legal team, represented by Farhan Shafee, confirmed the arrangement.

The broader legal landscape remains active, with Najib facing further potential penalties from the separate 15‑year sentence and any additional fines that may arise from ongoing investigations. The Malaysian judiciary and the royal pardon board will continue to oversee the implementation of these measures as the case progresses.

The transition from prison to house arrest marks a significant procedural development in one of Malaysia’s most high‑profile corruption cases, illustrating the interplay between political party support, royal authority, and the country’s legal system.