High Court concludes submissions in Najib Razak’s RM2.3 billion 1MDB case, with verdict scheduled for December 26 on corruption charges.
PUTRAJAYA: The High Court has concluded hearing submissions in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s RM2.3 billion 1Malaysia Development Berhad case.
Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah will deliver his verdict on December 26, determining whether Najib will be convicted or acquitted.
Both the defence and prosecution completed their final oral arguments before the court today.
The parties informed the court that minor outstanding issues would be submitted in writing as directed.
Proceedings concluded with Christmas greetings exchanged between all parties and the judge.
The hearing extension was granted last Friday after lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah requested additional time for submissions.
This high-profile trial involved 50 prosecution witnesses and spanned nine days of oral submissions.
Najib was initially charged on September 20, 2018, with the trial commencing almost a year later on August 28, 2019.
The prosecution closed its case on May 30, 2024, after presenting extensive evidence.
The court ruled on October 30, 2024, that Najib had a case to answer and ordered him to enter his defence on all charges.
The defence case proceeded from December 2, 2024, to May 6, 2025, spanning 58 hearing days.
Twenty-six witnesses testified for the defence during this period.
Key defence witnesses included former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamarudin.
Tengku Datuk Rahimah Sultan Mahmud, sister to the Sultan of Terengganu, also appeared for the defence.
Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom testified as well.
Najib faces four charges of using his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds.
The offences allegedly occurred at AmIslamic Bank Berhad between February 24, 2011, and December 19, 2014.
These charges fall under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act.
Conviction carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and substantial fines.
Najib also faces 21 additional charges for money laundering offences.
The money laundering charges relate to activities between March 22, 2013, and August 30, 2013.
These charges fall under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Money laundering convictions carry maximum penalties of five years imprisonment and RM5 million fines.
The prosecution was initially led by former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram until his death in January 2023.
Deputy public prosecutors Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Datuk Kamal Baharin Omar subsequently handled the case.
They were assisted by a team of seven additional deputy public prosecutors.
Najib’s defence team included Datuk Tania Scivetti and four other lawyers.
The former prime minister is currently serving his sentence in Kajang Prison for the SRC International case.His imprisonment follows conviction for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. – Bernama
