Former PM Najib Razak gets 15 years jail and an RM11.4 billion fine for 1MDB charges, adding to his existing SRC International sentence.
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has sentenced former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to 15 years in prison and an RM11.4 billion fine for 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) offences.
Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah delivered the sentence after finding Najib guilty of 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power involving RM2.3 billion.
The court ruled the defence failed to raise reasonable doubt against the 72-year-old former leader at the close of its case.
Najib is already serving a separate six-year prison term at Kajang Prison for embezzling RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
His initial 12-year sentence and RM210 million fine in the SRC case were reduced by the Pardons Board earlier.
The 1MDB case began with Najib’s first charges at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on September 20, 2018.
He faced four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering, all related to the RM2.3 billion sum.
The trial proceeded to the High Court after multiple legal challenges, including an unsuccessful bid to remove lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram.
The prosecution closed its case on May 30, 2024, after nearly seven years of hearings involving 50 witnesses.
Najib was ordered to enter his defence on October 30, 2024, with the court finding a prima facie case established.
He testified over 26 days, presenting a 678-page witness statement before the defence closed on May 6, 2025.
Justice Sequerah scheduled the final judgment for December 26 after concluding rebuttal arguments in November.
The judge had previously rejected Najib’s request for his recusal over past connections to a former 1MDB lawyer.
Najib publicly apologised for 1MDB-related issues through his son Datuk Mohamad Nizar on October 24, 2024.
Lead prosecutor Sri Ram passed away in January 2023, causing a temporary postponement of proceedings.
The fine of RM11.4 billion carries an additional default sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment.
