KUALA LUMPUR (March 7): The government is urged to clarify whether jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has applied for home detention with the Federal Territories Pardons Board, and if he has, to disclose the outcome.
During the debate on the royal address in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, Bera Member of Parliament and former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said he had learnt that there was an "attachment" submitted to the Pardons Board that sought to relocate Najib from Kajang Prison to home detention, in addition to the petition for a royal pardon that was submitted previously.
"I understand that there is an attachment, along with the royal pardon petition, to change Najib's place of detention from Kajang Prison to home detention.
"Thus, my question to the government is whether this is true. If so, was it discussed in the recent Pardons Board meeting, and what is the outcome?" said Ismail Sabri.
Recent news reports have suggested that Najib might be granted home detention, following Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's statement that the government has agreed in principle to implement Licensed Release of Prisoners (PBSL) through home detention for those serving sentences of four years and below.
However, Saifuddin reportedly refuted this claim on Saturday, stating that Najib is not on the list of prisoners eligible for home arrest, as the programme is only applicable to those serving sentences of less than four years.
Najib, who was serving a 12-year prison sentence in Kajang after the apex court dismissed his final appeal in the RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd case in August 2022, was also fined RM210 million.
However, in early February, the Pardons Board announced a reduction of his jail time to six years and the fine to RM50 million.
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