Malaysian Court Rejects Najib’s Bid to Suspend 15-Year Sentence

Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur High Court on Wednesday rejected former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s request to suspend a 15-year prison sentence while he appeals his conviction in a separate 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case. The ruling leaves the sentence in place, with Najib’s lawyer saying the defence will challenge the decision in a higher court. Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin ruled that Najib had not demonstrated special circumstances warranting a stay. The judge cited the seriousness of the offences and the public interest. Najib’s lawyers had raised concerns including his health and the financial penalties imposed in the case. Najib, 73, was convicted in December 2025 of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering in connection with funds linked to 1MDB. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 11.4 billion ringgit, about $2.8 billion. He is appealing the conviction. The additional prison term is scheduled to begin after Najib completes his existing sentence, in August 2028. He has been imprisoned since 2022 for a separate conviction involving SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary.