Court says overwhelming evidence proves abuse of power in Malaysia’s biggest financial scandal
Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak was sentenced on Friday to an additional 15 years in prison and fined 11.39 billion ringgit (about $2.8 billion) after being convicted of abuse of power and money laundering in the largest trial linked to the 1MDB corruption scandal.
The ruling marks a major moment in a case that has shaken Malaysia’s political system for more than a decade. Najib, 72, was found guilty on all charges related to the misappropriation of funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the state investment fund he helped establish in 2009 during his first term in office.
Court Rejects Najib’s Defence
Delivering a five-hour verdict, High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah dismissed Najib’s claim that he had been deceived by subordinates and external advisers, calling the argument implausible. The court said the evidence clearly showed Najib had exploited his position at the highest level of decision-making within 1MDB.
Najib was convicted on four counts of abusing power and 21 counts of money laundering. The court imposed 15-year sentences for the abuse of power convictions and five years for each money laundering charge, all to run concurrently after his current sentence ends in 2028.
Source: New York Times
Billions Ordered Recovered
In addition to the extended prison sentence, the court imposed financial penalties totaling 11.39 billion ringgit and ordered the recovery of assets valued at 2.08 billion ringgit from Najib. The judge warned that failure to pay the fines or forfeit the identified assets would result in additional jail time, further extending his imprisonment.
Investigators in Malaysia and the United States have estimated that at least $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, with more than $1 billion allegedly channeled into accounts linked to Najib. Throughout the proceedings, the former prime minister has denied any criminal intent, maintaining that he was unfairly targeted and used as a scapegoat in what he has described as Malaysia’s largest financial scandal.
Links to Jho Low and Lavish Spending
The court found that Najib had a close and direct relationship with fugitive financier Jho Low, who prosecutors say orchestrated the scheme. Judge Sequerah described Low as Najib’s proxy in managing 1MDB affairs, rejecting the claim that senior officials acted without the former premier’s knowledge.
Funds stolen from 1MDB were used to finance luxury purchases including private jets, a superyacht, high-end real estate, and artworks, as well as the Hollywood film The Wolf of Wall Street, according to international lawsuits. Low denies wrongdoing and remains at large.
Political Fallout Looms
The verdict is expected to further strain Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s governing coalition, which includes Najib’s former party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Despite being incarcerated since 2022 in a separate 1MDB-related conviction, Najib has retained considerable influence within the party, with sections of UMNO continuing to rally behind him.
The decision also comes shortly after a court rejected Najib’s request to serve his existing sentence under house arrest, a ruling that reignited tensions within the ruling alliance. The rejection drew mixed reactions from coalition partners, highlighting underlying divisions over accountability, legal outcomes, and political stability within the government.
End of a Decade-Long Probe
The conviction concludes a lengthy investigation led by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which officials said faced years of legal and political obstacles. Authorities emphasized that the ruling reflects institutional accountability rather than celebration.
Najib has previously apologised for mishandling the scandal but maintains that he was misled about the origin of funds, a claim the court firmly rejected.
