In the judgment, Judge Sequerah, who has since been appointed as a Federal Court judge, characterized the financial misconduct as surpassing historical precedents of plunder. “The scale of the plunder that took place (financially speaking, of course) made Attila the Hun look like a choirboy by comparison,” the judge wrote, noting that the scandal was described in global press as “the largest episode of kleptocracy in the world.” The judgment emphasizes that the funds involved were intended to spur economic growth but instead became the center of one of the largest financial corruption and money laundering scandals of the 21st century.
Charges and Conviction
Najib was found guilty on December 26, 2025, of four counts of abusing his position to obtain RM2.28 billion in gratification from 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount. The court rejected the defense’s primary argument regarding “Arab donations,” a claim previously raised in the separate SRC International case. Judge Sequerah noted that the “Arab donation defence was incapable of belief” and that the accused was estopped from raising it again, as it had been rejected by superior courts, including the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court. The judge stated that the court conducted an independent finding and concluded that the gratification received by Najib had not been rebutted, and the defense failed to raise reasonable doubt regarding the abuse of power charges.
Sentencing Rationale
The judgment provides a detailed breakdown of the sentencing factors. Judge Sequerah stated that the “public interest” was the most important factor, focusing on the need to deter others from committing similar crimes and to discourage convicted offenders from reoffending. “This is basically, the sending of a message out from the court that if you are prepared to do the crime, then be also prepared to pay the price for it by spending the time in prison,” the judge wrote.
The court determined that preventing crime outweighed Najib’s public service record. The judge noted that Najib, who held the highest reins of power and multiple top positions in both the government and 1MDB, used these roles to exert influence on the board of directors to approve “abnormal transactions with unholy haste.” Furthermore, the judgment highlighted that Najib showed no remorse for the offences and opted to blame 1MDB management staff, a factor the court considered when justifying the severity of the punishment.
The final order includes a 15-year jail sentence to be served simultaneously. In addition, Najib was fined RM11.38 billion for the abuse of power charges and a separate RM2.08 billion for money laundering. The judge also noted that Najib is currently serving a six-year sentence from the SRC International case, which is of a similar nature, and that his bid for house arrest for that sentence had been dismissed in a separate judicial review.
Procedural History and Context
Judge Sequerah described the case as having a “chequered history.” Charges were first preferred on September 20, 2018, at the Sessions Court, but the case was transferred to the High Court in October 2018. The trial did not commence until August 18, 2019, due to the concurrent SRC International trial. The proceedings were further delayed by the global pandemic, with multiple adjournments when parties or witnesses tested positive for or were suspected of having COVID-19. The trial lasted approximately six years, with 50 witnesses testifying for the prosecution and 26 for the defense. The judge remarked that the trial has “in all probability surpassed the length of any other trial in the annals of Malaysian court history.”
The judgment also addresses the broader impact of the scandal. Citing Finance Ministry figures, the court noted that while RM42 billion of the estimated RM50 billion in losses linked to 1MDB had been paid or retrieved as of last year, financial obligations remain. The court acknowledged that the scandal caused significant damage to Malaysia’s reputation, with repercussions and consequences that are still ongoing.
Legal Standing and Next Steps
Najib’s legal team may seek to appeal the conviction and sentencing. Senior lawyer Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent noted that Najib’s future is shaped by the conclusion of the 1MDB trial, the scope of his existing partial pardon for the SRC case, and the continued availability of royal pardon. In the absence of further clemency, Najib remains subject to ordinary remission rules. The 1MDB judgment stands as a definitive legal determination of the charges brought in this specific case, distinct from the earlier SRC International conviction.
