New Jail Term for Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak

Corruption Conviction Adds to 1MDB Sentence

Najib Razak, the former prime minister who is already serving a lengthy prison term for his involvement in the looting of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund, has been convicted of a separate corruption offence.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled on Thursday that Najib had abused his authority to divert public funds in a case linked to a state‑owned investment project. The judgment adds a fresh five‑year prison sentence to his existing term, pushing the total time behind bars to more than a decade.

Details of the New Case

The prosecution alleged that, while serving as finance minister, Najib authorised a series of dubious transactions that benefited a network of allied businessmen. Evidence presented included bank statements, internal memos, and testimony from former officials who claimed they were pressured to approve the deals.

Judge Ahmad Zulkifli described the conduct as “a blatant betrayal of public trust” and emphasized that the new conviction demonstrates the judiciary’s commitment to tackling high‑level corruption.

Reactions and Implications

Human‑rights groups welcomed the verdict, calling it a “significant step toward accountability.” Opposition leaders, however, warned that the legal process must remain transparent and free from political interference.

International observers noted that the cumulative sentences could deter future officials from exploiting Malaysia’s financial institutions. The government has pledged to strengthen oversight mechanisms to prevent a repeat of the 1MDB scandal.

Next Steps

Najib’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the evidence was “circumstantial” and that procedural errors occurred during the trial. The appeal is expected to be filed within the next two weeks, and a hearing date will be set by the appellate court.