Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is set to receive a verdict on Friday in one of the main cases linked to Malaysia’s 1MDB mega-corruption scandal, a decision that could significantly extend his current prison sentence.
Najib, 72, faces four charges of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering over the alleged misappropriation of hundreds of millions of dollars from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) sovereign wealth fund. The case triggered investigations in multiple countries and remains one of the largest financial scandals in Malaysia’s history.
If convicted, Najib could spend many more years behind bars. He is already serving a six-year prison sentence following an earlier conviction in a separate 1MDB-related case. It remains unclear whether sentencing will immediately follow a guilty verdict. Should he be acquitted, Najib will return to Kajang Prison to continue serving his existing sentence.
The verdict is scheduled to be delivered at 9am at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in Putrajaya. Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah will preside over the decision in the lengthy trial, which involves approximately RM2.28 billion (US$563 million) allegedly siphoned from 1MDB.
Prosecutors argue that Najib abused his roles as prime minister, finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s advisory board to channel large sums of money into his personal bank accounts more than a decade ago. The prosecution presented bank records, extensive documentation and testimony from over 50 witnesses.
They rejected defence claims that Najib was unaware of the wrongdoing and that responsibility lay solely with his close associate, fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low. Low is widely believed to be the mastermind behind the scheme and remains on the run. Authorities allege he used stolen funds to finance lavish purchases, including luxury properties and valuable artworks by Monet and Van Gogh.
During closing arguments, prosecutors described Najib as the central figure in the scandal. “The accused paints himself as a victim of rogue subordinates, when in truth, he was the single most powerful decision-maker,” said prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib, adding that Najib wielded “absolute financial, executive and political control.”
Najib’s legal team maintains that the money found in his accounts were legitimate donations from the Middle East. His lawyers argue that he had no knowledge of 1MDB’s management working with Low to divert funds from the state investment vehicle, which was originally established to promote national economic development.
Najib’s lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, has claimed his client did not receive a fair trial and reiterated that Low was responsible for orchestrating the fraud. The scandal led to investigations across Asia, Europe and the United States, severely damaging Malaysia’s international reputation.
While Najib has apologized for the scandal occurring during his administration, he continues to deny any knowledge of illegal fund transfers. His legal position weakened further earlier this week after the court rejected his application to serve the remainder of his current sentence under house arrest.
A conviction in this case could further diminish Najib’s remaining influence within the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), Malaysia’s oldest political party, which lost power in the 2018 general election.
Each charge of abuse of power carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to five times the value of the alleged bribe.
