Malaysia: Najib Razak fund reaches RM9.25 million as Rosmah Mansor asset freeze looms

A solidarity fund launched by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has raised RM9.25 million (approximately US$2.27 million) toward a RM50 million court fine for former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib is eligible for a conditional royal pardon that would allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 2028, provided the RM50 million fine is paid. Najib has been imprisoned since August 2022 following a conviction related to the 1MDB graft case.

In a separate legal development involving the 1MDB scandal, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur is scheduled to decide in January 2025 on an application to freeze the assets of Rosmah Mansor. The application is part of a US$346 million lawsuit filed by 1MDB and ten other companies seeking damages for the purchase of luxury items allegedly funded by misappropriated state funds.