High court convicts Najib on all 25 charges in RM2.3 bln 1MDB case

The verdict was handed down by Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who previously presided over the 1MDB trial at the High Court. He has since been elevated to the Federal Court.

He found the prosecution had succeeded in proving every one of the 25 charges against Najib beyond a reasonable doubt.

Najib, 72, faces four charges of using his position to obtain RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds through the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch on Jalan Raja Chulan between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

These charges were brought under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, which carries up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of either five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

As for the additional 21 counts of money laundering, he is accused of committing the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

These charges were framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM5 million, or both.

Throughout the proceedings, Najib, dressed in a blue suit, remained composed. Also present were his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and his children: daughters Nooryana Najwa and Puteri Norlisa, and sons Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin and Datuk Mohd Nizar.

Leading the prosecution were deputy public prosecutors Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Datuk Kamal Baharin Omar, supported by a team comprising Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam, Deepa Nair Thevarahan, Nadia Mohd Izhar, Najwa Bistamam, Hazmida Harris Lee, and Siti Aina Rodhiah Shikh Md Saud.

Representing the former prime minister was lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

His legal team included Datuk Tania Scivetti, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, Wan Mohammad Arfan Wan Othman, Hartrisha Kaur Sandhu, and Naresh Mayachandran.

Najib was initially charged on Sept 20, 2018. The trial commenced before the High Court almost a year later, on Aug 28, 2019, with the prosecution formally closing its case on May 30, 2024.

The high-profile seven-year trial, which drew international scrutiny, saw 50 witnesses called and nine days of oral submissions presented by the prosecution.

Key witnesses for the prosecution included former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Bakke Salleh, former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, and MACC investigating officer senior Supt Nur Aida Ariffin.

On Oct 30, 2024, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and ordered Najib to enter his defence on all charges.

The defence case was heard from Dec 2, 2024, to May 6, 2025, over 58 days, during which 26 witnesses testified.

Key witnesses for the defence included former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamarudin; Tengku Datuk Rahimah Sultan Mahmud, a sister of the Sultan of Terengganu; and former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

The hearing of oral submissions in the RM2.3 billion 1MDB trial concluded on Nov 4 following the completion of final arguments by both the prosecution and the defence.

Najib is presently incarcerated at Kajang Prison, where he is serving a sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.