Malaysia: Less than two weeks after serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has submitted an application for a royal pardon, the speaker of parliament announced on Monday.
On 23 August, Malaysia's top court dismissed Najib's 69-year-old appeal on corruption and money laundering charges in a case related to the multi-billion dollar scam at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Najib, who was also fined about $50 million, has always maintained his innocence.
An MP serving a prison sentence of more than a year in Malaysia is automatically removed from office within 14 days unless the monarch requests a pardon, according to the constitution.
Najeeb will continue to serve as an MLA until his Friday plea for pardon is decided, according to Parliament Speaker Azhar Azizan Haroon's statement on Monday.
According to Azhar, Najeeb will lose his seat only if "the petition is dismissed".
Najeeb's lawyer admitted to filing the petition but refused to divulge further details.
A pardon board headed by the king is expected to consider the petition and may also seek the advice of the prime minister. Najib, the son of the Malay nobility, is said to be friendly with some of Malaysia's sultans, who act as the country's traditional rulers in a novel rotational system.
He could return to politics and even run for prime minister again, as some of his supporters have suggested, with a full pardon.
Najib is still charged with four additional counts, all of which carry lengthy prison sentences and significant financial penalties. Najeeb was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, but local media reported that he would return to court on Monday.
His assistant said on Sunday that his condition was stable and that he was undergoing regular medical check-ups without going into more detail about his admission.
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