FORMER prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has formally filed an appeal against the High Court’s ruling that dismissed his attempt to serve the balance of his prison sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest.
His lawyer, Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, confirmed that the notice of appeal was submitted last Wednesday.
“The notice of appeal for the addendum was filed on the 24th,” he told Malay Mail when contacted.
The appeal follows a High Court decision delivered on December 22, which ruled that the alleged addendum or supplementary order issued by a former Yang di-Pertuan Agong allowing Najib to serve his sentence at home was invalid and unenforceable.
The court held that the order was not made during a Pardons Board meeting and failed to comply with procedures stipulated under the Federal Constitution.
Najib has been incarcerated at Kajang Prison since August 2022, serving a jail term linked to the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
His six-year sentence is scheduled to end either in August 2028 or August 2029, depending on whether he pays the RM50 million fine imposed by the court.
He could be released earlier if granted a one-third remission for good behaviour during his imprisonment.
In a separate but related development, the High Court last Friday found Najib guilty of all four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving more than RM2 billion in funds linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
Muhammad Farhan confirmed that Najib has yet to file an appeal against the 1MDB conviction.
He said the notice of appeal would only be lodged after the defence team receives and verifies the written court order setting out the sentence.
Under the High Court’s ruling in the 1MDB case, Najib faces a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment, with all jail terms ordered to run concurrently. However, the court directed that the 1MDB sentence will only commence after he completes his six-year sentence in the SRC case.
In addition to imprisonment, the court imposed a RM11.38 billion fine for the abuse of power charges, with a default sentence of 10 years’ jail, and a further RM2.081 billion penalty for the money laundering offences, carrying an additional two years and six months’ imprisonment in default.
The appeal against the house arrest ruling marks the latest chapter in Najib’s prolonged legal battle, which continues to shape Malaysia’s political and judicial landscape. - December 29, 2025
