KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak might be out of jail sooner than expected, if he applies for parole after serving half of his jail term.
Prominent lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said the former prime minister could seek early release by applying for parole after serving half of his prison term.
"Najib's sentence has been reduced from 12 years to six years, and the RM210 million fine to RM50 million.
"There is a provision under the Prison Act, specifically section 46E(6) on eligibility for parole states that convict, even after receiving a pardon, may be considered for parole by the parole board.
"Therefore, upon completing 50 per cent of his imprisonment by Aug 23, 2025, Najib can apply for the remainder of his jail sentence to be served at his residence.
"The Parole Board will convene after or before Aug 23, 2025 to determine if Najib is allowed to serve the remaining three years of imprisonment at home.
"This is no connection with the power of Pardons Board," he said in a video posted on his Facebook account today.
He said the Parole Board comprises seven members and its composition details can be found under Section 46B of the Prison Act.
He said there was a precedent case involving the parole board in 2016, involving former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo who was convicted and sentenced to jail for corruption.
On Dec 23, 2011, the Shah Alam High Court convicted Khir of corruptly using his position as then Selangor MB and Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) chairman to obtain land and property below the market price in 2007.
He was given a 12-month jail sentence after being found guilty of obtaining two plots of land and a bungalow in Section 7, Shah Alam for himself and his wife Zahrah Kechik, from Ditamas Sdn Bhd through its director Datuk Shamsuddin Hayroni with the inadequate payment of RM3.5 million in 2007.
However, on March 26, 2016, Khir was granted parole after the parole board members gave the green light to the application by Khir's counsel.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail term after he was found guilty of one count of abuse of power with regard to Retirement Fund Inc's (KWAP) RM4 billion loan to SRC International Sdn Bhd, as well as three counts each of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power involving RM42 million of SRC funds.
He was also fined RM210 million.
SRC is a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
In August 2022, the Federal Court upheld the conviction.
The 70-year-old former Pekan member of Parliament is still facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.