Datuk Seri Najib Razak was convicted on December 26, 2025, of all 25 charges related to the 1MDB financial scandal, including four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving about RM2.28 billion [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined between RM11.39 billion and RM13.4 billion, with some sources reporting a default 40-year jail term if the fine remains unpaid [1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 4, 5].
The judge, Collin Lawrence Sequerah, described the scale of corruption as staggering, saying it made Attila the Hun look like a choirboy in comparison [8, 1, 2, 9, 3, 6, 5]. He noted Najib and fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) "worked hand-in-hand to carefully and meticulously fashion a complex web of deceit" that siphoned money from 1MDB [4, 10]. Najib’s lack of remorse and attempts to blame others, including 1MDB management, were important factors in sentencing [11, 12].
Najib’s abuse of power offenses mainly occurred between February 2011 and December 2014 at the AmIslamic Bank branch in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur, while the money laundering charges relate mostly to funds moved from March to August 2013 at the same location [1, 2]. He was charged initially in September 2018 before the case transferred to the Kuala Lumpur High Court, where trial began in August 2019 [8, 1, 2, 3, 6, 5].
The trial lasted about six years, reportedly surpassing any other Malaysian court case in length, spanning around 303 hearing days but interrupted by delays including the COVID-19 pandemic [8, 1, 2, 3, 6, 5]. Najib controlled accounts receiving US$681 million via shell companies controlled by Jho Low, showing awareness of the illicit fund transfers [7]. He also influenced Bank Negara and removed officials to protect his interests in 1MDB affairs [7].
The 1MDB scandal involved liabilities around RM50 billion, with about RM42 billion borne by the government. Despite recovering roughly RM29 billion, about RM13 billion remains outstanding [11, 12]. Measures to seize assets and recover funds continue.
Najib’s sentencing closed one of Malaysia's longest and most high-profile court cases. Appeals processes are expected next, as legal teams prepare their filings.
