Ex-Malaysian PM Najib Gets 15 Years in Massive 1MDB Corruption Case

Former Malaysian Leader Sentenced in Historic Corruption Trial

In a landmark ruling that marks another chapter in one of the world's largest financial scandals, former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay a staggering 13.5 billion ringgit ($3.3 billion) in fines and asset recovery. The 72-year-old former leader was convicted on December 26, 2025, on all 25 charges - four counts of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering - related to the massive 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal.

The 1MDB Scandal: A Global Financial Saga

The 1MDB scandal, which erupted in 2015, involved the alleged theft of over $4.5 billion from Malaysia's state investment fund established in 2009 under Najib's leadership. According to investigators in Malaysia and the United States, nearly $1 billion was funneled directly into Najib's personal bank accounts. The funds were allegedly laundered through multiple countries including Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States, with the money used for extravagant purchases including luxury yachts, paintings by Van Gogh and Monet, and expensive jewelry.

'This verdict sends a strong message that no one is above the law, not even former prime ministers,' said Malaysian anti-corruption activist Cynthia Gabriel, who has followed the case closely.

Najib's Defense and Judicial Rejection

Throughout the trial, Najib maintained his innocence, claiming he was misled and believed the hundreds of millions of dollars deposited into his accounts were political donations from Saudi Arabia's royal family. However, Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah dismissed these claims as 'pure fantasy' and 'incapable of belief,' noting the presence of forged documents in Najib's defense.

The judge stated that Najib failed to take reasonable steps to verify the origins of the enormous sums and instead used the money while abusing his power as prime minister to protect himself from corruption investigations. 'The evidence shows a clear pattern of abuse of power for personal gain,' Justice Sequerah declared in his ruling.

Extravagant Evidence and International Fallout

During investigations following Najib's arrest in 2018, authorities seized hundreds of luxury handbags from brands like Hermès and Louis Vuitton, dozens of which were filled with cash and jewelry. The confiscated assets were valued at approximately $234 million. The scandal also implicated international financial institutions, most notably Goldman Sachs, which paid billions in fines in 2020 for its role in helping raise funds for 1MDB.

The 1MDB case has had global repercussions, with investigations spanning multiple continents. The United States Department of Justice described it as the largest kleptocracy case it had ever pursued, recovering assets including a $250 million superyacht, luxury real estate in Beverly Hills and London, and artwork by Picasso and Monet.

Political Implications and Current Status

Najib, who served as Malaysia's prime minister from 2009 to 2018, is already serving a 12-year sentence from a 2020 conviction in a related 1MDB case. His current sentence was halved last year by a pardon board, but the new 15-year term will begin only after he completes his existing prison time, which ends on August 23, 2028. He became Malaysia's first former prime minister to be imprisoned when he began serving his sentence in 2022.

The scandal had profound political consequences, contributing to the unprecedented defeat of Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition in the 2018 general election after six decades in power. The case continues to shape Malaysian politics, with Najib's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) now part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's governing alliance.

'This ruling represents a significant milestone in Malaysia's anti-corruption efforts, but the fight against systemic corruption is far from over,' noted political analyst James Chin of the University of Tasmania.

Legal Proceedings and Future Appeals

The defense has reserved the right to appeal the verdict, though they did not immediately apply for a stay of execution. Legal experts suggest the appeals process could take several years, potentially extending the legal saga that began nearly a decade ago. The court also ordered the recovery of 2.08 billion ringgit in assets from Najib as part of the comprehensive judgment.

As Malaysia continues to grapple with the aftermath of the 1MDB scandal, this latest verdict reinforces the country's commitment to addressing high-level corruption while serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and financial mismanagement at the highest levels of government.