Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for abuse of power and money laundering in his second major trial related to the multi-billion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

Najib, 72, was accused of misappropriating nearly 2.3 billion Malaysian ringgit ($569m / £422m) from the sovereign wealth fund. On Friday, a judge found him guilty of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering.

He is already serving a six-year prison sentence from an earlier conviction tied to 1MDB embezzlement.

Sentencing Details

Najib received:

• Four 15-year sentences for abuse of power
• Five-year sentences for each of 21 money laundering charges

Under Malaysian law, these sentences will run concurrently. His request to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest was rejected by the court earlier this week.

Despite his convictions, Najib retains a loyal supporter base. Dozens gathered outside the Putrajaya court on Friday to show support for the former PM, claiming he is a victim of unfair rulings.

Background on the 1MDB Scandal

The 1MDB scandal, which surfaced over a decade ago, involved the siphoning of $4.5 billion from Malaysia’s state-owned fund. High-profile figures worldwide, including Goldman Sachs executives and Hollywood personalities, were implicated.

Najib’s defense claimed he was misled by advisers, particularly financier Jho Low, who remains at large. The courts have consistently rejected these arguments.

In 2020, Najib was convicted over SRC International, a former 1MDB unit, for abuse of power, money laundering, and breach of trust, receiving a 12-year prison sentence, later halved. The current case concerns a larger sum transferred in 2013, which Najib claimed was a donation from the late Saudi King Abdullah—a claim dismissed by the judge.

His wife, Rosmah Mansor, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for bribery in 2022 but remains free on bail pending appeal.

Political Fallout

The 1MDB scandal contributed to Najib’s coalition, Barisan Nasional, losing power in 2018, ending decades of governance. The recent verdicts have intensified tensions within Malaysia’s ruling coalition, including Najib’s party, UMNO.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged all politicians to respect the court’s decisions. Analysts say the ruling sends a strong anti-corruption message, showing that even the nation’s most powerful leaders can be held accountable.

However, critics like Cynthia Gabriel, founder of Malaysia’s Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism, warn that grand corruption persists and that institutions remain too weak to prevent another 1MDB-style scandal.