KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak's lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has dismissed speculation that the imprisoned former prime minister is paying his RM50 million fine today, saying he has received no instructions regarding any settlement.

Speaking to reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, Shafee rejected earlier media reports suggesting that a representative would deliver the multi-million-ringgit payment to court registry officials this morning, FMT reported.

“I did not receive any instructions on this. Maybe some reporters created this news,” Shafee told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.

Settling the RM50 million penalty serves as the prerequisite to activate the conditional pardon granted by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, in September. Under the decree, the 73-year-old former premier would be permitted to serve the remainder of his reduced prison term under house detention until Aug 23, 2028, subject to administrative terms set by authorities.