A Malaysian court on Wednesday rejected former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s request to suspend a 15-year prison sentence linked to the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, dealing another setback to his efforts to avoid further imprisonment.
Najib, who has been in prison since 2022 following an earlier conviction for graft and money laundering, had sought to suspend the latest sentence while appealing against his conviction in a separate case. His lawyers cited his deteriorating health and the substantial financial penalties imposed on him.
Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nordin dismissed the application, ruling that there were no special circumstances justifying a suspension of the sentence.
“The gravity of the offense is a more important public interest consideration, which this court must have regard to,” the judge said.
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Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the defence would submit a fresh application to the Court of Appeal.
Why Najib Faces Another 15 Years in Prison
In December, Najib was convicted of abuse of power and money laundering in a separate 1MDB-related case. He received a 15-year prison sentence and was ordered to pay fines amounting to 11.4 billion ringgit, equivalent to approximately $2.8 billion.
His legal team sought to suspend the sentence while the appeal proceeds, arguing that Najib’s health was declining and that the financial penalties were beyond his ability to pay.
The latest ruling means the sentence will remain in place while his legal challenge continues.
The 1MDB scandal centres on the alleged diversion of billions of dollars from a state investment fund established in 2009, during Najib’s premiership. US investigators have estimated that approximately $4.5 billion was siphoned from the fund through an international financial scheme, with more than $1 billion reaching accounts linked to Najib.
Najib has denied wrongdoing and said he was misled about the origins of money he received.
The scandal has had far-reaching consequences for Malaysian politics, damaging the reputation of the country’s former ruling establishment and contributing to the political upheaval that followed Najib’s electoral defeat in 2018.
Royal Pardon Offers House Arrest but Leaves Legal Questions
The court’s decision comes despite a separate royal pardon that could allow Najib to serve the remainder of his earlier sentence under house arrest.
In 2024, Malaysia’s former king reduced Najib’s original 12-year prison term by half. Last month, Najib received a second royal pardon related to that conviction, paving the way for a transfer to house arrest, subject to payment of a 50 million ringgit fine, worth approximately $12.25 million.
Najib’s proposed transfer remains pending because he says he cannot pay the fine while his bank accounts are frozen. His party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), has launched a fundraising campaign to seek financial support from party members and sympathisers.
The separate 15-year sentence is scheduled to begin after his house arrest period ends in August 2028.
The distinction between the two cases is significant. The royal pardon concerns his original conviction, while Wednesday’s ruling relates to a separate conviction and sentence. The arrangements for his house arrest therefore do not automatically suspend the additional prison term.
Najib’s Case Deepens Divisions in Malaysia’s Governing Coalition
The latest ruling also comes amid political divisions within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s governing coalition, which includes UMNO.
Najib remains an influential figure within the party, which continues to have a significant presence in Malaysian politics despite the fallout from the 1MDB scandal.
The latest royal pardon intensified tensions within the coalition. Anthony Loke, leader of the Democratic Action Party, the largest party in Anwar’s ruling alliance, offered to resign as transport minister after the pardon was announced.
Loke subsequently said he would remain in the cabinet until Najib begins his house arrest.
The controversy highlights the difficulties facing Anwar’s coalition as it balances cooperation with UMNO against public expectations of accountability over one of Malaysia’s most prominent corruption scandals.
The government’s political position is complicated by the fact that UMNO remains an important coalition partner, while the treatment of Najib continues to attract public scrutiny.
What Happens Next?
Najib’s legal team is expected to pursue a fresh application to suspend the 15-year sentence at the Court of Appeal, keeping the case within Malaysia’s judicial system.
The outcome of that application will help determine whether the former prime minister can delay the additional prison term while challenging his conviction.
Meanwhile, the arrangements for his proposed house arrest remain dependent on the conditions attached to his separate royal pardon, including payment of the outstanding fine.
The case continues to test Malaysia’s efforts to demonstrate accountability for the 1MDB scandal while exposing tensions within its governing coalition. Even if Najib secures house arrest in connection with his earlier conviction, the separate 15-year sentence remains a major legal obstacle to his efforts to avoid further imprisonment.
With information from Reuters.
