A Malaysian court cleared the way Tuesday for former prime minister Najib Razak to move from prison to house arrest, resolving a dispute over the terms of a royal pardon, Al Jazeera reported.

Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Aslam Zainuddin ruled that Najib, 73, should serve the remainder of his reduced six-year sentence under house arrest in accordance with the conditional pardon. The report did not confirm that the transfer had taken place.

Najib was jailed over his role in the scandal involving the now-defunct state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, known as 1MDB. He received a conditional pardon in September.

His political party paid a $12-million fine on Friday as part of the pardon’s terms. But the attorney general intervened before Najib’s expected departure from prison, postponing the transfer while questioning the legal interpretation of the pardon and the court order permitting his release to house arrest.

King Sultan Ibrahim warned that attempts to challenge his order could amount to defiance of his decree. Malaysia’s monarch has a largely ceremonial role but holds constitutional powers to grant pardons.

Reporting outside the court, Al Jazeera correspondent Rob McBride said the dispute had generated political and constitutional controversy, highlighting the delicate relationship between Malaysia’s monarchy, courts and government.

The house arrest ruling applies only to Najib’s first conviction. He faces a further 15-year prison sentence after being convicted last year in another 1MDB-linked case, with that term set to begin after his house arrest ends.

Najib has appealed that conviction. His lawyers have also sought to halt the sentence and fines, citing poor health and his inability to pay.

Sources