1MDB Scandal: Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak Sentenced to 15 Additional Years

 

PUTRAJAYA— The legal saga of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak reached a dramatic new peak this Friday, December 26, 2025. The Kuala Lumpur High Court, convening in the administrative capital, sentenced the 72-year-old former leader to an additional 15 years in prison for his central role in the misappropriation of funds from the 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) sovereign wealth fund.

The verdict follows an exhaustive trial involving 25 charges: four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering. According to Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, the prosecution provided "cold, hard, and incontrovertible evidence" that Najib used his positions as Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and 1MDB advisory board chairman to channel approximately 2.3 billion ringgit ($544 million) into his personal accounts.

A Record-Breaking Financial Penalty In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a staggering fine of 11.4 billion ringgit (approximately $2.8 billion), representing five times the value of the illegal gratifications. Should Najib fail to pay this fine, he faces an additional 10 years of imprisonment. The judge also ordered the recovery of 2.08 billion ringgit ($514 million) in assets under anti-money laundering laws.

The court definitively rejected Najib's defense that the funds were a "political donation" from the Saudi royal family, with Judge Sequerah famously dismissing the claim as a tale that "surpassed even those from the Arabian Nights." The ruling also emphasized the "unmistakable bond" between Najib and fugitive financier Jho Low, who remains at large and is considered the mastermind behind the global fraud.

Accumulated Sentences and Political Fallout Najib, who has been incarcerated since August 2022, is already serving a sentence for a separate conviction related to SRC International (a former 1MDB unit). While his initial 12-year term was halved to six years by a Pardons Board in February 2024, this new 15-year sentence is set to run consecutively. This means Najib's new term will only begin after he completes his current sentence in August 2028, potentially keeping him behind bars until the early 2040s.

The conviction serves as a pivotal moment for the government of Anwar Ibrahim, testing the stability of his governing alliance, which includes the UMNO party formerly led by Najib. While supporters of the former PM gathered outside the Palace of Justice to protest the "harsh" verdict, transparency advocates hailed the decision as a victory for the rule of law and an end to the perceived invincibility of the political elite.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the 1MDB scandal? The 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) scandal is one of the world's largest financial frauds, involving the theft of at least $4.5 billion from a Malaysian state fund. The money was allegedly laundered through global financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, and used to purchase luxury real estate, art, a superyacht, and even to finance the film The Wolf of Wall Street.

Will Najib Razak serve 15 years on top of his current sentence? Yes. Although the judge ordered the sentences for the 25 individual counts in this trial to run concurrently (resulting in 15 years), he specified that this new term will only begin after Najib finishes his current six-year sentence for the SRC International case in August 2028.

What happens if Najib cannot pay the $2.8 billion fine? If the former Prime Minister is unable to pay the record-breaking fine of 11.4 billion ringgit, the law stipulates an "in default" penalty, which in this case adds an additional 10 years to his prison duration.

Can Najib Razak still appeal this decision? Yes. Najib’s lead defense counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, has already indicated that they intend to appeal the verdict, citing what they describe as "legal blunders" by the High Court. The case will likely move to the Court of Appeal and eventually the Federal Court.