Najib was found guilty of a string of graft offences in connection with his role in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal.

Najib has been serving a six-year jail sentence since August 2022 ​after being convicted of graft and money laundering in one of several ​cases linked to the alleged theft of billions of dollars from ⁠1Malaysia Development Berhad - a state fund he helped establish in 2009 while he ​was premier.

The ex-premier launched a legal bid for home detention after his sentence was ​halved by a pardons board decision chaired by Malaysia’s former king in 2024.

Najib insists the board’s decision was accompanied by an addendum order issued by the king that allowed him to serve ​the remainder of his jail term at home, which he alleges was ​ignored by authorities.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court denied Najib’s house arrest bid on December 22, a ‌decision ⁠that Najib subsequently appealed.

Najib has since withdrawn the appeal without liberty to file a fresh appeal, with the Court of Appeal acknowledging the withdrawal, The Edge reported on Monday, citing letters from Najib’s lawyers and the court, dated April 3 ​and April 6 ​, respectively.

Najib’s lawyers and ⁠the Attorney General’s Chambers did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

The withdrawal of his appeal for home detention ​would mark yet another setback for Najib, after he was ​jailed a ⁠further 15 years and fined $2.8 billion for abuse of power and money laundering in December following the biggest trial yet involving the 1MDB saga.

Malaysian and US investigators say at least $4.5 billion was stolen from the 1MDB state fund, with more than $1 billion allegedly flowing into accounts linked to Najib.

Najib has consistently denied ​wrongdoing and has apologised for mishandling the scandal.