Malaysian premier Najib Razak, who was convicted of graft over the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, could be released by 2028 after his jail sentence was halved, prompting uproar from critics who called on the government to explain the decision.
The pardons board, chaired by Malaysia's king, said on February 2 it made the decision this week after reviewing an application for a royal pardon by Najib, who began serving a 12-year jail term in August 2022. It did not give a reason.
The reduction in Najib's sentence comes amid accusations that current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is backsliding on promised reforms, after a string of corruption cases linked to Najib and leaders with ties to his party were dropped last year.
Anwar has long campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, but joined hands with Najib's graft-tainted party, the United National Malays Organisation, to form a government in November 2022, after an election that resulted in a hung parliament.
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