FORMER Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak suffered a legal setback today as the High Court dismissed his application to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest, compelling him to continue his incarceration at Kajang Prison.
High Court judge Alice Loke Yee Ching ruled that the add-on order, previously issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong to permit Najib’s house arrest, is invalid and cannot be implemented.
The decision underscores that Najib must complete the remaining duration of his sentence in prison, reaffirming the court’s stance on the enforceability of custodial sentences. The ruling also highlights the legal limitations surrounding any royal directives aimed at altering the conditions of imprisonment.
Najib’s bid for house arrest had drawn significant public and media attention, given his previous role as the nation’s prime minister and the political and symbolic implications of his potential early release.
The court’s decision ensures that the former leader continues to serve his term under the formal custodial framework. - December 22, 2025
