Malaysia's Court of Appeal has taken a significant step regarding the former Prime Minister Najib Razak, now incarcerated for his involvement in the notorious 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. On Monday, the court ruled 2-1 to grant Najib access to a royal decree that he claims permits him to serve the remainder of his two-and-a-half-year sentence under house arrest. This ruling provides him with a fresh opportunity to pursue his argument before the High Court, marking a rare victory for the controversial ex-leader amidst ongoing scrutiny.

The court's decision follows Najib's appeal regarding a previous ruling that rejected his claims to the existence of a decree from the former king, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, which he insists is valid and not executed by authorities. “Given the fact that there is no challenge [to the existence of the decree], there is no justification that the order has not been complied with,” noted Judge Mohamad Firuz Jaffril during the proceedings.

With his legal team now empowered by this ruling, Najib’s case has garnered significant public interest, stemming from his imprisonment sentences initiated in 2022 at Kajang Prison, after being convicted in 2020 for criminal breach of trust.

In another significant development, Najib’s son, Nizar, publicly referenced the sultan’s order during a rally where around 300 supporters gathered to express solidarity. Support for Najib remains divisive; although he has a loyal electoral base, many Malaysians recall the widespread allegations of corruption that led to his ousting in 2018. Since then, public sentiment has generally leaned against his release from prison.

Despite feeling elated by the court's recent judgment, the home minister emphasized that the prisons department had not received any formal notification regarding Najib's potential house detention last year. Moreover, the regulations stipulate that any commands from the monarchy regarding pardons must be issued through proper channels, and the current king, Sultan Ibrahim, has stressed that alterations to sentences fall strictly under his authority.

Najib still faces several additional corruption trials linked to 1MDB, with allegations that over $4.5 billion were misappropriated from the fund, with significant amounts traced back to him. “Najib was happy,” his lawyer remarked, signaling a mix of relief and determination as they navigate this complex legal landscape (source: SCMP, Al Jazeera).