Kuala lumpur: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was today found guilty on four charges of abusing his power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the verdict was handed down by Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who previously presided over the 1MDB trial at the High Court and has since been elevated to the Federal Court. The prosecution successfully proved all 25 charges against Najib beyond a reasonable doubt.
Najib, 72, faced charges of using his position to obtain RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds through the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch on Jalan Raja Chulan between February 2011 and December 2014. These charges were brought under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, which stipulates up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of either five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
In addition, Najib faced 21 counts of money laundering, accused of committing the offences at the same bank between March 2013 and August 2013. These charges were framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, carrying a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM5 million, or both.
Throughout the proceedings, Najib remained composed, dressed in a blue suit. His family, including his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and children Nooryana Najwa, Puteri Norlisa, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin, and Datuk Mohd Nizar, were present.
The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutors Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Datuk Kamal Baharin Omar, supported by a team comprising Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam, Deepa Nair Thevarahan, Nadia Mohd Izhar, Najwa Bistamam, Hazmida Harris Lee, and Siti Aina Rodhiah Shikh Md Saud. Najib's defence was headed by lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, with support from Datuk Tania Scivetti, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, Wan Mohammad Arfan Wan Othman, Hartrisha Kaur Sandhu, and Naresh Mayachandran.
Najib was initially charged on September 20, 2018, and the trial commenced on August 28, 2019. The prosecution closed its case on May 30, 2024, after a high-profile seven-year trial that drew international scrutiny, involving 50 witnesses and nine days of oral submissions.
Key prosecution witnesses included former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former 1MDB CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Bakke Salleh, former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, and MACC investigating officer senior Supt Nur Aida Ariffin.
On October 30, 2024, the High Court ruled that a prima facie case had been established, leading Najib to enter his defence on all charges. The defence case was heard from December 2024 to May 2025, over 58 days, with 26 witnesses, including former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamarudin and Tengku Datuk Rahimah Sultan Mahmud.
The hearing of oral submissions in the RM2.3 billion 1MDB trial concluded on November 4 with final arguments by both the prosecution and the defence. Najib is presently incarcerated at Kajang Prison, serving a sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.