Former prime minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the High Court. He was also fined RM11.38 billion after being found guilty of misappropriating RM2.3 billion from 1Malaysia Development Berhad funds.
The verdict was handed down by High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah around 9pm.
Najib was convicted on four charges of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving the funds.
Breakdown of Sentences
For each of the four abuse of power charges, Najib received 15 years’ imprisonment. Each money laundering charge carried a five-year term, all to run concurrently.
Specific fines were imposed on individual charges, ranging from RM303 million to over RM10.4 billion. Failure to pay any fine would add 10 years’ imprisonment per unpaid charge.
The court also ordered him to return recoverable sums totalling RM2.08 billion under anti-money laundering laws. Non-compliance could add two years and six months for each of nine related charges.
Commencement After SRC Term
All sentences will run concurrently but only begin after Najib completes his current prison term in the SRC International case.
He is serving a reduced six-year sentence at Kajang Prison for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC funds. His scheduled release from that case is August 23, 2028.
The 15-year term would then follow, potentially keeping him incarcerated until 2043 when he would be 90 years old.
Judge’s Reasoning
Sequerah explained that the sentences commence after the SRC term because the cases involve separate transactions.
“They are distinct,” the judge stated regarding the 1MDB and SRC matters.
Appeal Planned
Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, announced plans to file an appeal against the decision the following day.
Case Background
Najib faced charges of receiving bribes totalling RM2.3 billion into his bank accounts between 2011 and 2014.
The money laundering offences occurred at the same bank in 2013.
The trial, which began in August 2019 after charges were filed in September 2018, lasted seven years and called 50 witnesses. The prosecution closed its case in May 2024.
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