Malaysian court denies ex-PM Najib's bid to serve sentence in house arrest

A Malaysian court on Wednesday dismissed a bid by imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve his remaining corruption sentence under house arrest.

In an April application, Najib said he had clear information that then-King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah issued an addendum order allowing him to finish his sentence under house arrest. Najib claimed the addendum was issued during a Jan 29 pardons board meeting chaired by Sultan Abdullah, which also cut his 12-year jail sentence by half and sharply reduced a fine.

Najib's counsel, Mohamed Shafee Abdullah, said it was disappointing for the High Court to rule Wednesday that the government has no legal duty to verify if such an order existed. He said they would file an appeal.

The court said there is no legal duty but in terms of ethics, the government should have answered, Shafee told a news conference at the court building.

In his application, Najib has accused the pardons board, home minister, attorney-general and four ..