KUALA LUMPUR - Speculation that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak may pay his RM50 million fine to facilitate his transfer to house arrest has intensified after his special officer, an Umno leader and his lawyer were seen at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.
Sinar’s observation found that the individuals, including Najib's lawyer Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, had been around the court's payment counter since 11.30am.
When approached by the media and asked about his presence, Farhan only smiled before saying, "Good morning, everyone."
It is understood that the payment process would begin with a representative of the former Umno president obtaining a receipt before his release order was issued.
The receipt is believed to be submitted to the Malaysian Prisons Department before the house arrest order can be implemented.
Speculation over Najib settling the RM50 million fine has been circulating since last Tuesday, amid expectations that payment would allow him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
However, his lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, had previously said that the legal team had yet to receive any instructions from Najib regarding the matter. He also said the lawyers could not predict whether the payment would be made this week.
Shafee had earlier confirmed that the location specified for Najib's house arrest in the document obtained was his residence at No 11, Langgak Duta.
In October, Prime Minister's Department Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) director-general Datuk Zamri Misman said the Malaysian Prisons Department had provided further clarification to Najib on the mechanism for house arrest.
On Sept 19, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said the Malaysian Prisons Department was expected to prepare standard operating procedures (SOPs) for implementing house arrest for the former Pekan Member of Parliament (MP).
Najib has been imprisoned at Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022, after being found guilty of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.
He submitted a petition seeking a royal pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 2, 2022.
On July 28, 2020, the High Court sentenced Najib to 12 years in prison and imposed a RM210 million fine after finding him guilty of three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of power.