KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's former prime minister Najib Razak returned to prison on Friday evening after undergoing a medical examination, local media reported.
Najib was taken to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for a medical examination on Friday afternoon before returning to Kajang Prison later in the evening, according to local newspaper Berita Harian.
Earlier on Friday, Najib paid the 50 million ringgit (about 12.3 million U.S. dollars) fine imposed on him in the SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case, fulfilling one of the conditions of his conditional pardon, according to Malaysian national news agency Bernama.
Najib's special officer, Ahmad Lutfi Azhar, arrived at the Kuala Lumpur High Court's criminal registry on Friday morning to arrange the payment of the fine and complete the necessary administrative procedures, while his lawyer Farhan Shafee confirmed that the court had issued a house arrest order for Najib. A vehicle believed to be carrying Najib was later seen leaving the prison.
However, Malaysia's Attorney General's Chambers said in a statement on Friday afternoon that the implementation of Najib's house arrest had been temporarily deferred pending further legal clarification. Najib should remain at his existing detention facility in the meantime, subject to instructions and orders from the relevant authorities, it said.
In September, Malaysia's Prime Minister's Department said Najib had been granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, subject to conditions including payment of the 50 million ringgit fine.
Najib has been imprisoned since August 2022 over abuse of power related to SRC International, a former unit of the state investment fund 1MDB.
Earlier in 2024, Najib was granted a reduced sentence, which saw his 12-year sentence reduced to six years while the fine imposed on him was reduced from 210 million ringgit to 50 million ringgit. ■
