PUTRAJAYA - Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could be released from prison within a month if the judicial review successfully invalidates the royal addendum, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
His legal team is optimistic that a favourable ruling from the Kuala Lumpur High Court in the ongoing judicial review could lead to his early release.
Najib's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah expressed confidence that if the court rules in their favour, the 72-year-old former prime minister could be freed from prison soon.
"It depends on the court. If the judge decides in our favour, he could be back within a month," Shafee said during a press conference after proceedings at the Court of Appeal on Monday.
Najib has been serving a six-year prison sentence since August 2022 after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Following his conviction, he submitted a petition for a Royal Pardon on September 2 of the same year.
The Pardons Board subsequently reduced his sentence from 12 years to six years and lowered his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
With these reductions, he is eligible for release by August 23, 2028.
The controversy centres around the Royal Addendum, which allegedly permits Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
The addendum, reportedly approved by Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has sparked legal debates.
Najib's legal team succeeded in obtaining permission to initiate judicial review proceedings to compel the government and relevant parties to verify the existence of the Royal Addendum.
A three-judge panel, led by Datuk Azizah Nawawi and including Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli and Datuk Seri Mohd Firuz Jaffril, granted the application in a two-to-one majority ruling.
Justices Azhahari and Firuz were in favour, while Justice Azizah dissented.
Shafee also shared that Najib was pleased with the ruling, showing a thumbs-up gesture.
"He appeared happy and very relieved that an element of injustice imposed on him has finally been recognised," Shafee added.