Malaysian appeals court grants ex-PM access to contested document

Malaysia’s Court of Appeal on Monday approved a request by former Prime Minister Najib Razak, currently imprisoned over the infamous 1MDB corruption scandal, to obtain a document he claims could allow him to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.

Najib, who began serving a 12-year sentence for graft linked to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, had his jail term halved to six years following a decision by the pardons board in February last year.

Najib contends that an “addendum order” was issued by Malaysia’s former king alongside the board’s ruling, entitling him to house arrest.

The authenticity or existence of th alleged document remains uncertain. Najib’s appeal follows a lower court’s decision in July that dismissed his effort to confirm and enforce the supposed royal order.

The appeals court’s ruling provides Najib the opportunity to substantiate his claim of the addendum order, which, if proven legitimate, could drastically alter the terms of his imprisonment.

Najib, a central figure in the 1MDB scandal that involved the misappropriation of billions of dollars, continues to assert his innocence. The case has drawn international attention, given its far-reaching implications and involvement of global financial institutions.

The court’s decision is seen as a pivotal step in Najib’s ongoing legal battle. It raises broader questions about transparency and the role of executive authority in judicial matters in Malaysia.