KUALA LUMPUR (March 16) : The Malaysian Bar, in its annual general meeting (AGM) on Saturday, agreed to challenge the Pardons Board's decision to reduce the graft sentence handed down to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over his conviction in the SRC International Sdn Bhd graft case.

The lawyers' professional body voted on a motion brought forward by its former president, Zainur Zakaria, to challenge the legality of the Pardons Board's decision.

Zainur confirmed that the AGM passed the motion when contacted by The Edge.

It is now incumbent on the new office bearers to realise the motion and challenge the decision that was announced on Feb 2.

Zainur submitted the motion for the Bar on the grounds that the Pardons Board had “acted ultra vires (beyond one's legal power or authority) under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution to reduce Najib’s 12-year jail sentence to six years and reduce the RM210 million fine to RM50 million".

The former Bar president claimed that Najib was not entitled to receive the reduced sentence, as he had only served just about one year and six months of the original sentence.

Some legal eagles have also questioned why the fine was reduced.

Najib was sentenced to 12 years' jail and fined RM210 million on Aug 23, 2022, after the Federal Court upheld his conviction in the SRC graft case, in which he was accused of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving RM42 million of SRC funds.

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