Najib cannot afford RM50mil fine, says lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak cannot afford to pay the RM50 million fine imposed as a condition for him to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest, his lawyer said.

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the former prime minister did not have the financial means to settle the fine.

"As of today, Najib himself cannot afford it... He cannot afford to pay," he told reporters after court proceedings here.

Shafee said Najib's bank accounts were frozen, including an Affin Bank account which he said was used to receive Najib's salary as prime minister and member of Parliament.

Separately, Shafee said Najib had not sought public donations to settle the RM50 million fine.