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Former Malaysian PM jailed for 15 years in second 1MDB trial
Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak received a 15-year prison sentence on Friday for abuse of power and money laundering tied to the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. The verdict marks his second conviction in cases linked to the state fund's mismanagement.
Court delivers guilty verdict after seven-year legal battle
A judge in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital, found the 72-year-old guilty on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering. The charges stem from the misappropriation of nearly 2.3 billion Malaysian ringgit ($569 million) from 1MDB, the nation's sovereign wealth fund.
Prosecutors presented testimony from 76 witnesses during the prolonged trial, which concluded with the court rejecting Najib's claim that the funds were a personal donation from Saudi Arabia's late King Abdullah. The sentences-15 years for abuse of power and five years for each money laundering charge-will run concurrently under Malaysian law.
Legal setbacks deepen as house arrest bid fails
Najib, already serving a 12-year sentence from a 2020 conviction for embezzling 42 million ringgit ($10 million) from SRC International-a former 1MDB subsidiary-saw his latest legal defeat compounded this week. On Monday, a court denied his request to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, a decision that drew mixed reactions from Malaysia's political factions.
Despite his incarceration since 2022, Najib retains a loyal support base. Dozens of backers gathered outside the Putrajaya courthouse on Friday, decrying the rulings as unjust. His wife, Rosmah Mansor, also faces legal consequences; she was sentenced to 10 years in 2022 for bribery but remains free on bail pending an appeal.
Scandal's global fallout reshapes Malaysian politics
The 1MDB affair, which erupted a decade ago, exposed systemic corruption involving figures from Goldman Sachs to Hollywood elites. Investigators estimate $4.5 billion was diverted from the fund, with portions allegedly funneled into Najib's personal accounts. His defense-blaming financier Jho Low, who remains at large-has failed to sway courts.
The scandal triggered a seismic shift in Malaysia's political landscape. In 2018, Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition suffered a historic election loss after six decades in power. Current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged unity, calling for respect for judicial decisions amid tensions within the ruling coalition, which includes Najib's party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
Critics say corruption risks persist
While some view the verdict as a deterrent, anti-corruption advocates argue Malaysia's institutions remain vulnerable. Cynthia Gabriel, director of the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, told the BBC's Newsday that systemic reforms have stalled. "Grand corruption continues in different forms," she warned, questioning whether another 1MDB-scale scandal could already be underway.
Former lawmaker Tony Pua countered that the ruling sends a clear message: "Even the country's top leaders can be held accountable."
