Malaysia
Malaysian Court Upholds Najib Razak's 15-Year Sentence in 1MDB Case
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak's appeal to suspend his prison sentence and hefty fine linked to the 1MDB scandal has been denied by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
A Malaysian court has denied former Prime Minister Najib Razak's request to suspend his 15-year prison sentence and RM11.38 billion (approximately $2.8 billion) fine related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal. The ruling was made by Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on October 14, 2026.
Judge Noor Ruwena stated that Najib failed to demonstrate the special circumstances necessary for a suspension of his sentence while his appeal is pending. The court emphasized that the seriousness of the offenses and the public interest outweighed Najib's arguments regarding his health and the complexities of the legal process.
Najib was convicted in December 2025 on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion linked to 1MDB. He is currently serving a separate six-year sentence for misappropriating funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. His additional 15-year sentence is scheduled to begin in August 2028, after he completes his current term.
“The medical report gave me the impression that the applicant’s medical needs are very well taken care of by the government, hospitals and experts.”Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin, Kuala Lumpur High Court
The judge noted that Najib could no longer be regarded as a first-time offender, given that his previous conviction in the SRC International case had been upheld by both the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court. The court also dismissed claims that Najib's medical conditions warranted a stay, indicating that his healthcare needs were adequately met by the government.
Judge Noor Ruwena said she was given the impression that Najib’s medical needs are very well taken care of by the government, hospitals and experts.
In addition, the court ruled that the substantial fines imposed did not constitute special circumstances justifying a stay of the judgment. Najib's legal team had argued that the fines were excessive, but the judge clarified that they would only be enforced if his conviction is upheld after the final appeal.