• Malaysia's court rejects Najib Razak's house arrest petition due to procedural flaws.
• The ruling means Najib will continue serving his sentence in Kajang Prison.
• Another trial verdict for Najib related to the 1MDB scandal is set for December 26.

The High Court in Malaysia has dismissed former Prime Minister Najib Razak's bid to serve the rest of his prison sentence under house arrest, stating the royal document he claimed entitled him to such a status was invalid. Judge Alice Loke determined that the order was not made following the proper protocols, as the former king should have consulted the pardons board beforehand, although the order's existence was acknowledged as valid. This decision further complicates Najib's legal situation as he has been imprisoned since August 2022 for his involvement in the high-profile 1MDB scandal, which has been described as a monumental case of corruption involving billions of dollars, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

Following the ruling on December 22, Najib, who has maintained his innocence throughout legal proceedings, will remain in Selangor’s Kajang Prison. His legal team announced intentions to appeal this decision. Najib's imprisonment stems from his conviction in 2020 on multiple charges, including graft and money laundering, linked to illegal financial activities involving SRC International, a subsidiary tied to the 1MDB fund, where he was found guilty of misappropriating RM42 million (approximately $9.5 million). Reports indicate that Najib's situation is drawing significant public interest, with many of his supporters gathering outside the court on the day of the ruling, as detailed by Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

As Najib's legal battles unfold, he faces another crucial trial set to deliver its verdict on December 26, where he is charged with four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering, involving RM2.2 billion (approximately $538.69 million) transferred illegally from the 1MDB fund. This upcoming verdict is viewed as potentially significantly impactful, affecting not only Najib's future but also Malaysian politics, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration has positioned itself on a strong anti-corruption platform, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.