Kuala lumpur: After a protracted seven-year legal battle, the High Court has sentenced former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to 15 years in prison and imposed a fine of RM11.4 billion. The sentence comes after Najib was found guilty of 25 charges involving money laundering and abuse of power related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, amounting to RM2.3 billion.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the judgment was delivered by Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, now serving as a Federal Court Judge, who ruled that the defense failed to provide any reasonable doubt regarding Najib's culpability at the close of the defense case. Najib, currently serving time at Kajang Prison following his earlier conviction for embezzling RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, had his initial 12-year sentence reduced to six years, alongside a reduced fine of RM50 million, by the Pardons Board.
The 1MDB case has been a highly publicized legal saga. Najib was first charged on September 20, 2018, at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering. The charges were subsequently transferred to the High Court on October 31, 2018.
Throughout the trial, Najib challenged various facets of the proceedings, including the appointment of former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram as the head of the prosecution team. Najib's efforts to remove Sri Ram were ultimately unsuccessful, as the courts consistently upheld his appointment.
The trial faced numerous delays, including a postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Najib's quarantine requirements following an election campaign. Despite these interruptions, the prosecution presented a comprehensive case, calling 50 witnesses over the course of six years and 235 days of hearings.
Significant developments continued as Najib's legal team made several appeals and requests throughout the trial, including a failed attempt to remove Judge Sequerah due to alleged past connections and a request for action against a Netflix documentary that Najib claimed was prejudicial.
The trial culminated in Najib being ordered to enter his defense on October 30, 2024, after the court found a prima facie case against him. Najib gave his defense testimony beginning December 2, 2024, and concluded on January 24, 2025, with the defense closing its case on May 6, 2025.
The final stages of the trial saw the defense and prosecution presenting their oral submissions, rebuttals, and final arguments, leading to the court's decision. As Najib's legal journey concludes, the High Court's verdict marks a significant chapter in the ongoing efforts to address the 1MDB scandal, one of Malaysia's most notorious financial controversies.