PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak gave a thumbs up after the Court of Appeal reinstated his judicial review to challenge the existence of an addendum order by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong, allegedly allowing him to serve his jail sentence under house arrest.
His lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said his client was relieved and happy that the court had finally acknowledged elements of injustice in the case.
"From afar I saw he gave his thumbs up. He is hoping to see and to start breathing again," he said when met after the proceeding.
Meanwhile, the former prime minister in his Facebook account posted - "Praise be to Allah. Today, we take another step forward."
Earlier, the Court of Appeal reversed the High Court's ruling, which had dismissed Najib's application to initiate the judicial review last year.
The former Pekan member of parliament is seeking a mandamus order to compel the respondents to provide a response and verify the existence of the alleged additional decree dated Jan 29, 2024.
Najib is currently serving a six-year prison sentence after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The High Court had sentenced him to 12 years in prison with a fine of RM210 million, and the verdict was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.
However, his prison sentence was halved to six years and his fine was reduced to RM50 million following his petition for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022.
Najib later filed an application on an alleged addendum order signed by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.