The rumour is true; the 'Dove' is nesting in Cheras

SHAH ALAM – Rumours of jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s out-of-prison sojourn in a hospital in Cheras has been put to rest, with the Prisons Department confirming that it is true.

The Prisons Department clarified that Najib’s transfer from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (HRC) was made on Sept 19 which was the same day the rumour went viral on Twitter.

In an anonymous Twitter thread, Najib was given the codename, "Merpati" which means dove in the Malay language.

“Najib will be sent back to Kajang Prison to serve his sentence as soon as the specialists from either HRC or HKL give him medical clearance,” the department said in a statement it issued today.

On Sept 12, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered for Najib to be taken to HKL for treatment which was in line with Section 37 of the Prisons Act and the United Nations Standard Mininum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules).

“The authority is exercising its responsibilities under the Prisons Act in ensuring the optimal health of prison inmates and ensuring the availability of healthcare and medicines prescribed by government medical officers,” added the department.

Najib is currently serving his 12-year jail sentence and fine of RM210 million, after he was convicted on all seven charges over the misappropriation of RM42 million funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.