In a landmark verdict, Malaysia's High Court on Friday sentenced jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak to an additional 15 years in prison and imposed a colossal fine of 13.5 billion ringgit ($3.3 billion). This conviction stems from his central role in the multi-billion dollar looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund, one of the world's largest financial scandals.
The Verdict and Charges
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah found the 72-year-old former leader guilty on four counts of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering. The charges involved more than $700 million that was illicitly transferred from the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund into Najib's personal bank accounts.
The judge handed down a 15-year prison term for each abuse of power charge and a 5-year sentence for each money laundering count. However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Najib will serve an effective total of 15 additional years. This new sentence will commence only after he completes his current prison term from an earlier 1MDB-related case.
Financially, the court ordered a fine of 11.4 billion ringgit for the abuse of power and the recovery of 2.08 billion ringgit in assets under anti-money laundering laws. The court warned that failure to pay the fine could result in further prison time.
Court Dismisses Najib's Defence
Justice Sequerah firmly rejected Najib's long-standing defence that the massive sums were a political donation from Saudi Arabia. The judge labelled this claim as "incapable of belief," revealing that four letters supposedly from the Saudi donor were forgeries. The evidence conclusively demonstrated the money originated from 1MDB.
The court also dismissed arguments that Najib was a naive victim deceived by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho and other 1MDB officials. Witness testimony described an "unmistakable bond" between Najib and Low, who acted as the former premier's "proxy, conduit, intermediary and facilitator" in the fund.
"The accused was no country bumpkin. Any attempt to paint the accused as an ignoramus who was hopelessly unaware of the misdeeds going around him must therefore, fail miserably," Justice Sequerah stated, as reported by AP.
The judge noted that Najib failed to verify the source of the funds or act against Low. Instead, he used the suspicious money and took steps to shield himself, including removing the attorney general and anti-corruption chief who were investigating the scandal.
Background and Ongoing Legal Battles
Najib, who was Malaysia's prime minister from 2009 to 2018, is already serving a 12-year sentence from a 2020 conviction related to SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary. He began that sentence in August 2022, becoming the nation's first former prime minister to be imprisoned.
In 2024, the Pardons Board halved that original sentence and slashed his fine, which had initially set his potential release for August 2028. This new 15-year term now extends his imprisonment further.
His legal team has announced plans to appeal Friday's verdict. Earlier this week, a separate bid to serve his sentence under house arrest was also rejected by the High Court, which ruled a purported royal order for home confinement was invalid. His lawyers intend to appeal that decision as well.
The 1MDB scandal, which saw an estimated $4.5 billion stolen, led to the downfall of Najib's government in the 2018 elections. His wife, Rosmah Mansor, was also sentenced in 2022 to 10 years in prison in a separate corruption case. She is currently on bail pending her appeal.
The scandal's alleged mastermind, Low Taek Jho, remains at large.
