Kuala Lumpur – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak received a lengthy prison sentence Monday, effectively 15 years, following convictions related to the extensive 1MDB corruption scandal. The Kuala Lumpur High Court also levied a substantial fine of roughly $24 million USD against Razak, bringing a new chapter to a case that has gripped Malaysia and drawn international scrutiny. [[1]] The sentencing follows a trial centered on the misappropriation of billions of dollars from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) sovereign wealth fund.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to a total of 165 years in prison, though he will only serve 15 years, following convictions related to corruption in the 1MDB financial scandal. In addition to the prison sentence, Najib was ordered to pay a fine of MYR 11.4 billion, equivalent to approximately $24 million USD.
According to reports from The Star and Bernama on Monday, December 29, 2025, the High Court handed down the 165-year sentence across 25 charges stemming from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case. He received a 15-year prison term for each of four counts of abuse of power.
Najib was also fined a total of MYR 11.4 billion and sentenced to five years in prison for each of 21 money laundering charges.
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The judge ruled that all prison sentences would be served concurrently, meaning Najib will effectively serve 15 years.
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah also ordered Najib to pay MYR 2.08 billion, roughly $436 million USD, in recoverable funds under Section 55(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Failure to pay could result in an additional 270 months in prison.
Judge Sequerah stated that he had considered all mitigating factors presented by the defense and aggravating factors from the prosecution.
“I have considered the cases cited and the principles of law. I have also considered the public interest and the principle of deterrence, the length of his service in government and other mitigating factors,” he said.
The sentencing began at 9:30 a.m. local time and concluded around 9:00 p.m. local time, lasting approximately 12 hours.
The judge also stipulated that the new prison term would begin after Najib completes his existing six-year sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case. Najib has been incarcerated at Kajang Prison since August 23, 2022, after being convicted of embezzling MYR 42 million from SRC International.
According to the Pardons Board, Najib is currently expected to be released on August 23, 2028. The defense team requested the return of a MYR 3.5 million bail deposit, a request to which the prosecution did not object.
“In these circumstances, the court orders the return of the bail money,” Judge Sequerah said.
Najib’s lead counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, stated that the defense would not be filing an application for a stay of execution at this time. Following the verdict, Najib issued a statement urging Malaysians to remain calm and refrain from any provocative actions.
“I will continue to fight for my rights through legal channels. Whatever the decision today, I still believe in the country’s judicial process,” he said.
What is the 1MDB case?
According to the BBC, Najib Razak established 1MDB in 2009 as a means of managing Malaysia’s resource-rich wealth through strategic investments. Concerns arose in 2015 when the company defaulted on $11 billion in debt to a number of banks and bondholders.
In July 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit alleging that more than $3.5 billion had been misappropriated. That figure later increased to over $4.5 billion.
“MO1,” later confirmed to be Najib Razak by his own government, was allegedly identified by U.S. prosecutors as having received approximately $681 million of the stolen funds, though he reportedly returned a significant portion of it. While in office, Najib was cleared of any wrongdoing by Malaysian authorities.
The situation dramatically changed after his party suffered a surprising defeat in the 2018 general election. Police raided his residences, seizing a collection of luxury items and $28.6 million in cash. Najib faced at least 42 charges related to alleged corruption, money laundering, and abuse of power, all of which he has denied.
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