Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was sentenced by the High Court in Putrajaya on 26 December 2025 to a total of 15 years’ imprisonment and fined RM11.38 billion after being found guilty of abuse of power and money laundering linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah said the court had weighed mitigation submissions from both the defence and prosecution, while also considering public interest and the need for deterrence in cases involving large-scale financial crimes. Najib was convicted on four counts of abuse of power involving sums totalling nearly RM2.2 billion. For each charge, the court imposed a 15-year jail term and a statutory minimum fine equivalent to five times the gratification amount, bringing the total fine to RM11,387,888,067.05.
The court clarified that the four prison terms would run concurrently, meaning Najib would not serve a cumulative 60 years. However, the judge ordered that this sentence would only begin after Najib completes his current sentence in the SRC International case. Depending on whether the RM50 million fine in the SRC matter is paid, the new term is expected to commence from August 2028 or August 2029. Failure to pay the 1MDB-related fine would result in an additional 10 years’ imprisonment for each abuse of power charge.
Najib was also convicted on 21 counts of money laundering. For these, the court imposed five-year jail terms on each charge, to run concurrently, with no additional fines. Separately, Najib was ordered to pay RM2.081 billion as a recoverable sum under anti-money laundering laws. Non-compliance would trigger further imprisonment of two years and six months in default for each relevant charge.
The proceedings, which began at around 9.20am, stretched nearly 12 hours, with more than four hours spent reading the court’s detailed findings. Najib, dressed in a blue suit, maintained a subdued presence as the sentence was announced, while several family members were seated in the public gallery.
Despite the ruling, the case is not concluded. Najib’s legal team indicated that an appeal would be filed, meaning the matter will proceed to the Court of Appeal and potentially the Federal Court.
The charges stemmed from allegations that Najib used his positions as prime minister, finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers to secure personal financial benefits. Prosecutors detailed how funds linked to 1MDB were channelled through Najib’s personal bank accounts, involving transfers exceeding US$681 million, subsequent cheque payments, and the movement of billions of ringgit between accounts in 2013.
The verdict marks one of the most significant judicial decisions arising from the 1MDB scandal, reinforcing the courts’ stance on accountability in cases involving public office and massive financial losses.
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