PUTRAJAYA (Dec 26): Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been sentenced to 15 years in jail and ordered to pay a whopping RM 11.38 billion fine following his conviction in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial.

The sentence comes after trial judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah found the ex-PM guilty of all four abuse of power and 21 money-laundering charges.

For the 21 money-laundering charges, Najib is sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for each charge.

The jail terms are to run concurrently, and will only commence after August 2028, following the expiration of Najib's SRC International prison sentence, as Sequerah said that the charges in that case differed from the ones in this 1MDB case.

In his decision, Sequerah said that he had considered all arguments made during mitigation.

The judge said that in arriving at his decision, he first and foremost took into account public interest and the principle of deterrence. But he also took into consideration the length of Najib’s years in public service.

Below is the breakdown of the four abuse of power charges:

First charge: 15 years, fine = RM303.15 million
In default: 10 years.

Second charge: 15 years, fine = RM454.5 million
In default: 10 years.

Third charge: 15 years, fine = RM10.4 billion
In default: 10 years.

Fourth charge : 15 years, fine = RM222.85 million
In default: 10 years.

Najib’s sentence for the 21 money-laundering charges are to run concurrently with the main charges. This means that the ex-PM will only serve 15 years in total.

Also, according to the law, the court can impose a "funds recoverable" for monies he received from money-laundering activity.

The sums recoverable is not considered as part of the fine. The court imposed RM2.081 billion as sums recoverable, which Najib also has to pay.

In default of this payment, Najib will be further subjected to two years and six months in jail for each of the nine charges for money-laundering in which he received funds.

Shafee also asked for the bail imposed in this case to be returned to Najib, with the prosecution not objecting to this. The defence also did not apply for a stay (pause) of the decision, but retained the liberty to apply for a stay in the future.

Earlier during mitigation, Najib's counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah urged for the court to show mercy in its sentencing.

"Mercy is the fountain of justice," he said.

He asked for the minimum jail sentence permitted by law and for all imprisonment terms to run concurrently.

Shafee added that the defence sought for the 1MDB-Tanore sentence to start on Friday, the day of the conviction and that for this moment, they were not seeking a stay (pause) of the sentence.

Shafee highlighted that even in prison — where Najib is serving his sentence for the SRC criminal case — the ex-PM is still thinking about the progress of the nation.

He said that this was evident as his client is pursuing his doctorate and working on his thesis on economic transformation in Malaysia.

Najib began his higher studies in 2023 and is due to end his programme in 2026.

Shafee also brought up Najib's long and storied political career, where he was elected as Pekan member of Parliament (MP) at the young age of 23. Since then, Najib had served in the government, in service of the nation.

"Under his leadership, Malaysia witnessed major economic reform. [...] No one can deny he was not in the business of being in the corporate world. He was the ultimate figure of a finance minister," he said.

Shafee also highlighted the 72-year-old's health condition, which was less than optimal.

The senior lawyer highlighted that even in the course of the 1MDB trial, the court has witnessed Najib health struggles. This, among others, include a severe ulcer problem sometime back, which Shafee claimed put Najib at risk of a stroke.

Shafee also cited the numerous court cases against Najib, both criminal and civil, a hardship which he had endured.

He added that before the SRC case, Najib had not committed even a traffic offence.

Meanwhile, lead public prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib asked the court to impose a maximum sentence possible for the case.

He added that the prosecution sought for the 1MDB-Tanore sentence to start after Najib completes his reduced SRC imprisonment term, scheduled to end in August 2028.

The prosecution, he said, wanted the 1MDB-Tanore sentence for the abuse of power and the money-laundering to run concurrently, but only after Najib is done with his SRC sentence.

As for the fine, Akram asked for the maximum fine to be imposed for all four abuse of power charges — totalling RM11.3805 billion.

Akram argued that the paramount factor to take into consideration in this case is public interest.

"The case concerns misappropriation of public funds. The country's reputation is tarnished. The financial burden continues to be borne by the country," he said.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Kamal Baharin Omar also asked for a deterrent sentence for the 21 money-laundering charges against Najib, pointing out that the fines on the first nine money laundering charges alone amounted to more than RM2 billion.

Akram added that the sentences would serve as a deterrent to others, and if the country were to hope for a clean administration, its corrupt officers must be dealt with severely.

The Edge is covering the trial live here.

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