Malaysia’s Najib moved from prison to house arrest after royal clemency

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who was transferred from jailthis week to serve the rest of his sentence for a graft conviction at home, can be returned to prison if he breaches any of the conditions of his house arrest, the country's interior minister said on Thursday.



Najib, who was prime minister from 2009 to 2018, was found guilty of corruption linked to the embezzlement of funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a state investment fund he co-founded while in power.



On Tuesday, he was moved to his home in Kuala Lumpur after spending four years in prison, following the royal pardon he received from King Sultan Ibrahim in September that allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.



Najib, 73, will be able to live with immediate family members, including "any wives, children, in-laws and grandchildren", but he will not be allowed to make any public statements through the press or social media, Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told parliament on Thursday, detailing the terms of the house arrest for the first time.



The ex-premier is barred from public gatherings and political activities, and from using phones or other telecommunication devices except when permitted by the Prisons Department, the minister said, adding that visitors will be allowed only with written permission.