Najib not eligible for 'home detention' proposal, says Saifuddin

Najib not eligible for 'home detention' proposal, says Saifuddin

Published: Mar 4, 2024 5:19 PM


Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has assured that the disgraced former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is not on the list for convicted prisoners who will be serving time via home arrest.

The minister told Malaysiakini that only prisoners who are serving less than four years of jail time, senior citizens, pregnant women and people with disabilities, will be on the home detention list.

"Najib is not included in that list," he said.

Earlier today, Harian Metro reported that Putrajaya's newly proposed home arrest for convicted prisoners is intended to reduce overcrowding in jails, not to be abused by convicted leaders.

Saifuddin reportedly dismissed the claim that the home detention policy is meant to allow Najib to serve his remaining prison term in the comfort of home is ill-intentioned.

"I want to refute the ‘mischievous’ narrative played by certain media claiming that the implementation of house arrest is intended to place Najib under house arrest. It's so mischievous to the point that they can't see the perspective of reducing prison congestion.

"While its implementation is specifically targeted for certain categories of inmates, there will be a panel will make an assessment, and the proposed type of offences are only those sentenced to less than four hears imprisonment.

"If someone is sentenced to imprisonment for up to 20 years for serious crimes, they won't easily be granted 'home detention'," he was quoted as saying during a press conference in Rumah Seri Kenangan Ulu Kinta in Ipoh earlier, today.

[More to follow]