Malaysian Court Rejects Najib Razak’s Bid to Pause 15-Year 1MDB Prison Sentence
A Malaysian court denies former PM Najib Razak's request to suspend his 15-year jail term linked to the 1MDB scandal, keeping his legal challenges active.
POLICY WIRE — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — A Malaysian court on Wednesday rejected an application from former Prime Minister Najib Razak to suspend a 15-year prison sentence tied to the 1MDB financial scandal. The ruling comes despite speculation that the former leader might transition to house arrest following a separate royal pardon.
Najib has remained incarcerated since 2022 after being convicted of money laundering and graft involving the theft of billions from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a state fund he helped establish in 2009. Throughout the proceedings, he has maintained his innocence.
In a separate legal matter decided last December, Najib received a 15-year prison term and $2.8 billion in fines for abuse of power and money laundering. His legal team sought to pause this sentence while his appeals are processed, citing his deteriorating health and an inability to pay the substantial fines.
Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nordin dismissed the request, stating that there were no exceptional circumstances to justify a stay of execution. The judge emphasized that the gravity of the offense remains a primary public interest consideration that the court must prioritize.
Defense attorney Muhammad Shafee Abdullah indicated that he intends to file a new application for a stay with the Court of Appeal. US investigators have previously estimated that approximately $4.5 billion was siphoned from 1MDB, with over $1 billion traced to accounts associated with Najib, who claims he was misled regarding the origin of those funds.
The court’s decision marks a significant hurdle for Najib, who was granted a second royal pardon last month for his initial conviction, potentially allowing him to serve the remainder of that sentence under house arrest. That earlier 12-year term was halved by the previous king in 2024.
The transition to house arrest is contingent upon the payment of a 50 million ringgit, or $12.25 million, fine. Najib’s 15-year sentence is scheduled to commence once his house arrest concludes in August 2028.
The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Najib’s political party, has initiated a fundraising campaign to assist him, as he asserts that his frozen bank accounts prevent him from settling the fine. This ongoing situation has strained the administration of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, which includes UMNO members.
Anthony Loke, leader of the Democratic Action Party and a key member of the ruling coalition, previously offered his resignation as transport minister following the announcement of the pardon. Loke has stated he will remain in the cabinet until Najib begins his house arrest.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
