Najib could still apply for parole, says lawyer
Former prime minister Najib Razak has obtained a PhD while in prison, says his lawyer, Shafee Abdullah.
KUALA LUMPUR : Najib Razak still has a shot at being freed even if he fails to obtain a judicial review on a royal addendum that purportedly allows him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
The former prime minister's lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, said Najib could still apply for parole in September or October.
'And the chances of him obtaining a parole is high considering that his jail term has been reduced to six years and he will receive an automatic remission after two years,' Shafee said.
'Najib has already served three years, so it's just another year left (before he is eligible for an automatic remission). He can be paroled,' he said.
Najib is currently serving a six-year jail sentence on charges of abuse of power and corruption in the SRC International case.
A Federal Court hearing has been set for July 1-2 on an appeal against a Court of Appeal decision allowing Najib to initiate a judicial review related to the addendum.
The Court of Appeal had ordered the High Court to hear Najib's claim of the existence of a royal addendum.
Separately, Shafee said that Najib has been a model prisoner.
He also said Najib had obtained a doctorate while in prison and therefore saw no reason why he should be denied parole. 'His PhD is about developing the country. Many came to engage him. In many ways he is a model prisoner,' Shafee said.
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