FORMER prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has formally withdrawn his legal bid to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, effectively ending efforts to leave incarceration in the SRC International case.
Court documents show that Najib’s legal team from Shafee & Co filed a Notice of Discontinuance on April 3 at the Court of Appeal, signalling his decision to abandon the appeal entirely.
The notice, dated April 2, stated: “Please take note that the appellant named above wishes to terminate and withdraw this appeal against the respondents without liberty to file afresh and with no order as to costs.”
No reasons were provided for the decision to discontinue the application.
On April 14, the Court of Appeal formally recorded the withdrawal as valid, striking out the appeal. The move carries significant legal consequence, as it was made “without liberty to file afresh”, meaning Najib is permanently barred from reapplying for house arrest in relation to this case.
Malay Mail cited on Monday that Najib had sought to serve the balance of his reduced sentence at his residence in Kuala Lumpur rather than at Kajang Prison, where he has been held since August 23, 2022, following his conviction over the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Originally sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, his term was reduced to six years in 2024 following a decision by the Malaysian Pardons Board under the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, alongside a reduction of his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Based on the revised sentence, Najib is expected to complete his jail term between August 2028 and August 2029, depending on whether the fine is paid.
However, legal observers have noted that standard sentence remission for good behaviour could result in an earlier release, potentially as soon as August 2026 or August 2027.
Separately, Najib faces further legal jeopardy in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case. In December 2025, the High Court convicted him on 25 charges involving more than RM2 billion in misappropriated funds and imposed a 15-year prison sentence, to be served after completion of the SRC term.
He is currently appealing that conviction. The Court of Appeal has fixed May 22 for the next case management, as his legal team awaits the High Court’s written grounds of judgment.
Earlier reports that Najib had submitted a fresh application for a royal pardon have been denied by his lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. - April 27, 2026
