THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed jailed ‍former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his sentence for corruption at his home, ruling that a royal document allowing the ⁠move was not valid.

The decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday dealt another blow to Najib, who has been imprisoned since August 2022 for his role in the 1MDB scandal.

Najib, 72, had sought to compel Malaysian authorities to ‍confirm and execute a royal order that he said was issued last year as part of a pardon by the then-king.

He said the “addendum order” entitled him to serve the remainder of his sentence at ​home.

The king plays a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia but can pardon convicted people as one of the discretionary powers granted to him by the federal constitution.

Judge Alice Loke said the existence of the order was not in dispute, but the order was not legally enforceable as it was not made with the consultation of the country’s pardons board, as required under the constitution.