Umno Says It Paid Fine Required for Najib House Arrest

Malaysia’s United Malays National Organisation (Umno) said Friday, November 6, that it had paid the RM50 million fine required under Najib Razak’s conditional pardon, clearing a stated financial condition for the former prime minister to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. The reports do not establish that Najib has been transferred from prison to his residence. Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party completed payment procedures at the Kuala Lumpur High Court that morning. He said the money came from a fundraising campaign launched on September 18, and that contributions had reached the target. The party said it was closing the special fund set up to receive donations. The September pardon allows Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, subject to payment of the fine and compliance with other conditions. Najib has been imprisoned since 2022. The reports differ over whether the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted a house-arrest order on Friday or whether paperwork for a transfer was still pending. An aide said the party was waiting for transfer papers, while another account said Najib’s lawyer would deliver the order to...