Malaysia

Najib’s house arrest does not end other legal battles, MACC probe to continue

Yesterday, the King granted a conditional pardon to Najib, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to the payment of a RM50 million fine.

Updated 1 hour ago · Published on 19 Sep 2026 10:33AM

Najib’s house arrest does not end other legal battles, MACC probe to continue
The IRB is also seeking RM1.69 billion from Najib and RM37.6 million from Nazifuddin. - September 19, 2026

by Alfian Z.M. Tahir

INVESTIGATIONS into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption case involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak will proceed and remain unchanged, stressed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

"We must understand that every case differs from another; one case cannot simply be equated to another.

"In other words, the investigation focuses on the specific issues raised or the complaints lodged.

"So, regarding the cases that are still pending, the situation remains as it is. Regardless of what others say, if the MACC deems certain actions necessary, the status quo remains," said its Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman.

Yesterday, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, granted a conditional pardon to Najib, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to the payment of a RM50 million fine.

This was announced in a statement by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU, JPM).

The decision was made following the royal assent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, who presided over the Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting.

However, allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest does not end his other legal battles.

The arrangement applies only to his six-year sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case, involving the misappropriation of RM42 million.

Najib’s sentence is due to end on Aug 23, 2028, but he remains involved in another major criminal case, several civil suits and a tax dispute that has led to bankruptcy proceedings.

His most significant outstanding criminal matter is his appeal against his conviction and 15-year prison sentence in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case.

On Dec 26, 2025, the High Court convicted Najib on 25 charges involving the abuse of his position to obtain about RM2.3 billion from 1MDB, as well as money-laundering offences.

The court sentenced him to 15 years in prison and fined him RM11.4 billion, with the sentence to begin after he completes his SRC International term.

Najib filed an appeal against the conviction and sentence on Dec 29, 2025.

Substantial civil liabilities

Najib’s civil liabilities also remain substantial.

On March 31 this year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Najib liable for about US$1.3 billion in losses suffered by SRC International.

The court found that he had breached his fiduciary duties, abused his position and diverted company funds for personal use.

SRC was awarded US$1.18 billion, in addition to US$120 million that Najib had received from the company.

The suit, filed in May 2021, initially named Najib and six former SRC directors. The directors were later removed from the proceedings, while a default judgment was entered against former SRC chief executive officer Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil in 2021, leaving Najib as the sole defendant.

Another major civil claim is being pursued by 1MDB, which is seeking about US$5.64 billion from Najib and six others.

The suit alleges breaches of fiduciary and statutory duties, abuse of power, conspiracy and misappropriation of 1MDB funds.

The trial before Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Redzuan Idrus is scheduled to resume on March 15 next year.

A separate RM42 million civil suit brought by SRC International and its subsidiary Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd concluded on March 16 this year, with the parties now making oral submissions before High Court judge Datuk Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Shah Raja Mohzan.

Najib, however, has also been cleared in several other criminal cases.

On June 20, 2025, the High Court discharged and acquitted him of three money-laundering charges involving RM27 million belonging to SRC International.

His acquittal in the 1MDB audit-tampering case, alongside former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy, also remains in place after the Court of Appeal struck out the prosecution’s appeal notices on Sept 12, 2023.

The court found that the prosecution had failed to file its petition of appeal within the prescribed period and had not sought an extension.

Najib and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah were also discharged and acquitted in a separate case involving six counts of criminal breach of trust over RM6.6 billion in payments to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).

IRB tax dispute

His tax dispute with the Inland Revenue Board has also resulted in bankruptcy proceedings involving him and his son, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin.

On Sept 4, the Court of Appeal stayed the proceedings pending the outcome of their appeals before the Special Commissioners of Income Tax over additional assessments issued by the IRB.

The proceedings stemmed from High Court judgments allowing the IRB to recover unpaid taxes for the 2011 to 2017 assessment years.

The tax authority is seeking RM1.69 billion from Najib and RM37.6 million from Nazifuddin.

Both have previously failed in their attempts at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court to overturn the judgments.

Najib’s house arrest, therefore, changes how he serves his SRC International sentence but does not dispose of the other cases and claims still running through the courts.

His 1MDB appeal, multi-billion-ringgit civil claims and tax dispute remain subject to their respective legal processes. – September 19, 2026

Related News

Malaysia / 3min

Najib’s conditional pardon: Time for DAP to take a strong stance

Malaysia / 45min

Abdul Azeez and children ordered to declare assets within a month

Opinion / 57min

Najib’s conditional home‑detention sentence: Legitimate mercy must not turn into systemic privilege

Malaysia / 18h

Why should Malaysians pay Najib’s RM50 million fine?

Malaysia / 21h

'Pardons Board decision does not undermine our fight against corruption' – PM Anwar

Malaysia / 21h

UMNO launches donation drive to help Najib pay RM50 million fine – Zahid

Spotlight

Malaysia

UMNO launches donation drive to help Najib pay RM50 million fine – Zahid

Malaysia

Uni student charged over crash that killed four family members

Malaysia

Rafizi presses government to explain Najib house arrest terms

Malaysia

AirAsia brushes off financial concerns, says cash position strong

Malaysia

Najib granted conditional pardon, to serve remainder of sentence under house arrest

Business

Inflation picks up to 1.9% as transport, food prices rise

Malaysia

Two-lorry crash blocks all northbound PLUS lanes, leads to 7km traffic crawl

Malaysia

Negeri Sembilan SUK declines to gazette proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

Police refer Noorazli speech probe to AGC after 93 statements recorded

You may be interested

Malaysia

Negeri Sembilan SUK declines to gazette proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

Tuanku Muhriz attends Friday prayers with more than 500 worshippers

Malaysia

High Court rejects RM1 million suit over girl’s school chair fall

Malaysia

High Court rejects Albert Tei’s bid to move five corruption charges

Malaysia

Negeri crisis an embarrassment to UMNO, says former supreme council member

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

Malaysia to sit on IAEA Board of Governors for 2026-2028 term

Malaysia

DAP to decide position on Najib house arrest at CEC meeting

Malaysia

'Pardons Board decision does not undermine our fight against corruption' – PM Anwar