Najib Succeeds In Getting A Stay Of Execution Pending Appeal In Federal Court

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In a proceeding chaired by Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil today, 8 December, Najib was granted a stay of execution — which is essentially a temporary suspension of the defendant's punishment — pending a fresh appeal to the Federal Court, reported Malaysiakini.

The judge said Najib will have to report to the nearest police station twice a month and the bail has been set at RM2 million with two sureties, the same terms as laid out by the Kuala Lumpur High Court last year.

On 28 July 2020, Najib was sentenced to 12 years of jail and fined RM210 million by the High Court for all seven charges in the SRC International case.

He was also granted a stay of execution when the High Court ruled that he was guilty in the corruption case.

For the past year and more, the order had allowed Najib to attend Parliament sittings and campaign for the Melaka state election despite being a convict.

Another defence lawyer, Farhan Read, also told the appellate court to consider the circumstances of disallowing a stay since Najib has responsibilities as a UMNO division chief and a MP for his Pekan constituency, reported Malay Mail.

"If the applicant's stay (was) to be denied, it would carry grave prejudice to the constituents of Pekan as well as result in disruption to his membership in UMNO via Section 9(A)(1) of the Societies Act," Farhan said.

Najib reportedly looked calm in a Zoom video conference call when the verdict was read out to him.

He was said to have been clad in a black suit and a tie.