UMNO says it has paid Najib Razak’s RM50 million fine
The former prime minister could leave prison soon to serve the rest of his sentence at his Kuala Lumpur residence.
Key points
- UMNO reports that the RM50 million (US$12.3 million) penalty against Najib Razak has been cleared
- Settlement was finalised at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday morning
- The payment opens the route to house arrest under a conditional royal pardon
- The pardon lasts until Aug 23, 2028, the end of his six-year term
- Police were reported near his residence in Langgak Duta
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party said on Friday, 6 November, that the RM50 million (US$12.3 million) penalty against former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has been settled. According to CNA, this settlement is what allows him to complete his prison term at home rather than behind bars. UMNO said the transaction was finalised at the Kuala Lumpur High Court earlier that morning.
UMNO secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki released a statement saying the Najib Razak Solidarity Fund had gathered enough money to meet its goal. The party has shut the dedicated account that had been opened to take donations from the public. In his view, further appeals for crowd contributions are now unnecessary.
Malaysian outlets reported that Najib might walk out of Kajang prison on Friday, and officers were spotted close to his Langgak Duta home in Kuala Lumpur. That house is where he is set to live under house arrest. Authorities examined and evaluated the property in September, local media said.
Conditional pardon and house arrest
Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Malaysia’s king, approved a conditional pardon for Najib on 18 September. Under its terms, Najib can spend the rest of his six-year sentence at home, running to 23 August 2028. The approval depends on paying the RM50 million fine and meeting other requirements. The Federal Territories Pardons Board, presided over by Sultan Ibrahim, reached the decision after convening.
Reports indicated that Najib would be kept in isolation, supervised by prison staff, with visits from family limited. His attorney, Hasnal Rezue Merican, explained that the property was picked because none of his relatives live there, so it could function as a correctional site, according to the New Straits Times.
Najib’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa, had previously stated the Langgak Duta house sat empty ever since her father entered custody on 23 August 2022. On Friday, his wife Rosmah Mansor spoke to journalists and said she and her relatives had not received notice of any progress, the alleged payment included, as Free Malaysia Today reported.
Fundraising and payment doubts
The solidarity fund began on 18 September and passed RM1 million within a day. On Tuesday, Asyraf acknowledged the target had not been reached, though gifts kept arriving each day, typically worth RM5,000 to RM10,000. He also noted that some donors contributed a mere RM1, per the New Straits Times.
On Sunday, Attorney-General Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar informed reporters that the fine remained unpaid. Najib’s lawyers had argued earlier that his capacity to pay was beyond his control, given that much of his property was frozen and under enforcement action. On Wednesday, Shafee Abdullah said he had not received any directions regarding payment.
Background to the case
Najib was first handed a sentence of 12 years in prison plus a RM210 million penalty in July 2020. The verdict covered three breach of trust counts, three laundering counts and a single abuse of power count.
The case centred on RM42 million moved out of SRC International, once a subsidiary of 1MDB, a state investment fund, and deposited into his private accounts during 2014 and 2015.
In January 2024 he received a partial royal pardon that cut his jail term in half and lowered the fine to RM50 million. Now 73, he entered Kajang Prison in August 2022. He has insisted that a former king, Sultan Abdullah, signed an addendum permitting him to finish his term at home. The payment reported today moves that arrangement forward, though his release had not been confirmed in the reports.
Frequently asked questions
Has Najib Razak paid his fine?
According to CNA, UMNO told the public on 6 November 2026 that the RM50 million fine had been cleared. The party said the procedures were carried out that morning at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Where will Najib Razak serve his sentence?
Reports point to his Langgak Duta home in Kuala Lumpur as the place for house arrest. The conditional pardon permits him to serve the rest of his term at home until 23 August 2028.
Why was Najib Razak sentenced?
He was found guilty in 2020 on breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power charges. The offences centred on RM42 million moved from SRC International into his personal accounts in 2014 and 2015.
Sources
- CNA: Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak's US$12.3 million fine paid by UMNO, paving way for house arrest
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