Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for abuse of power and money laundering, marking a significant ruling in a multi-billion-dollar state funds scandal. At 72, Najib has been accused of misappropriating nearly 2.3 billion Malaysian ringgit (approximately $569 million) from the sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The verdict, issued on Friday in Malaysia's administrative capital of Putrajaya, follows a lengthy legal process spanning seven years and the testimony of 76 witnesses. Najib was convicted on four charges of abuse of power and 21 charges of money laundering. The sentences are to be served concurrently under Malaysian law, further compounding his existing jail time from a prior conviction related to the same scandal.
Just days before this ruling, a court denied Najib's request to serve his sentence under house arrest, a disappointment for his supporters who allege he is being unfairly targeted.
The 1MDB scandal, which has drawn global attention since its revelations a decade ago, estimated that $4.5 billion was improperly siphoned from state funds into private accounts, including Najib's own, with connections involving high-profile figures and companies worldwide.
Following the announcement of the verdict, supporters gathered outside the court, demonstrating ongoing loyalty despite the legal setbacks. Investigators maintain that Najib's claims of having been misled by his advisers have not been convincing to the courts, which previously found him guilty of separate charges in 2020 related to a transfer of funds from SRC International, a unit of 1MDB.
This case highlights not only Najib's ongoing legal challenges but also raises critical questions about the integrity of Malaysian politics. As the verdict reverberates through political circles, it serves as a reminder of the enduring corruption issues that have plagued Malaysia since the onset of the 1MDB scandal.
