Former prime minister Najib Razak faces a verdict in the central 1MDB graft trial over four counts of abuse of power and 21 money-laundering charges tied to about 2.28 billion ringgit (~$563M). The 72-year-old is already serving a six-year sentence from a separate 1MDB case; a guilty verdict here could add years. Prosecutors relied on bank records and testimony from 50+ witnesses, while the defence says the funds were Middle Eastern donations and blames fugitive financier Jho Low. The ruling will be delivered by Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in Putrajaya.
Najib Razak Verdict Day: Landmark Ruling in Central 1MDB Graft Trial
Najib Razak, 72, has issued an apology for the 1MDB scandal happening during his tenure (Mohd RASFAN)(Mohd RASFAN/AFP/AFP)
Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak is set to learn a verdict in the central 1MDB graft trial on Friday, a decision that could extend the prison time he is already serving. The case — long seen as the principal legal reckoning in the 1MDB scandal — centers on roughly 2.28 billion ringgit (about $563 million).
Charges and Possible Consequences
The 72-year-old faces four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering linked to alleged transfers from the sovereign wealth vehicle 1MDB into his personal accounts more than a decade ago. Najib is already serving a six-year sentence from a separate 1MDB-related conviction, and a guilty verdict in this trial could add years to that term.
Court Hearing Details
The verdict hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) before the Kuala Lumpur High Court and will take place in Putrajaya, Malaysia's administrative capital. Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah will deliver judgment in what prosecutors and observers have described as the marathon, principal trial of the 1MDB affair. It remains unclear whether sentencing will follow immediately if Najib is found guilty; if acquitted he will be returned to Kajang Prison to serve the earlier sentence.
Evidence and Arguments
Prosecutors presented a case built on bank records, documentary evidence and testimony from more than 50 witnesses. They argue Najib abused his roles as prime minister, finance minister and chairman of 1MDB's advisory board to authorize transfers from the fund to his accounts.
"The accused wielded absolute financial, executive and political control," prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the court during closing submissions, adding that Najib "paints himself as a victim of rogue subordinates."
The defence maintains the payments were legitimate donations from Middle Eastern sources and contends Najib was unaware that 1MDB's management colluded with businessman Low Taek Jho — commonly known as Jho Low — to siphon money from the fund. Low remains at large and is widely accused by investigators of orchestrating schemes that spent 1MDB proceeds on luxury property, artworks and other assets.
Broader Impact
A conviction in this high-profile trial could further erode Najib's influence within the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia's oldest political party, which lost power in 2018. The 1MDB scandal has prompted probes across multiple jurisdictions, from Singapore to the United States and Europe, and damaged Malaysia's international reputation.
Penalties
Each count of abuse of power carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to five times the amount of any bribe; the money-laundering charges also carry severe penalties under Malaysian law.
Whether the court delivers a sentence immediately or schedules a later hearing, Friday's ruling will mark a pivotal moment in one of the world's largest and most complex corruption investigations.
