SOON after Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s conviction on all charges linked to the misappropriation of 1Malaysia Development Berhad funds, prosecutors have called on the High Court to impose the maximum custodial sentences available under the law, arguing that the gravity of the offences warrants severe punishment and consecutive imprisonment.
Lead prosecutor Datuk Akram Ahmad Gharib told the court that Najib’s crimes were among the most serious financial offences ever committed in Malaysia, involving the abuse of public trust and the large-scale misappropriation of public funds.
“We move this Honourable Court to impose the maximum 20 years’ imprisonment for each and every count, and fine the accused accordingly,” The Edge cited Akram saying.
He further urged the court to order that any sentence imposed should run consecutively to Najib’s existing term of imprisonment and to reject any application for a stay of execution pending appeal.
According to the prosecution, only a severe custodial sentence would properly reflect the seriousness of the offences and serve as an effective deterrent.
Akram stressed that public interest must remain the paramount consideration in sentencing, given the far-reaching consequences of the 1MDB scandal.
“The offences involved the misappropriation of public funds, resulting in severe and lasting reputational damage to Malaysia on the international stage. More critically, the financial burden continues to be borne by the government,” he said.
He referred to figures disclosed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, noting that 1MDB’s total liabilities stood at nearly RM50 billion. Of that sum, about RM42 billion has already been paid by the government, including principal and interest.
Despite recovery efforts that have yielded approximately RM29 billion, Akram said Malaysia continues to face a shortfall of around RM13 billion.
“These facts underscore the profound and enduring harm caused by the offences, thereby necessitating a sentence that fully reflects the gravity of the crimes and upholds the public interest through strong elements of deterrence,” The Edge reported him telling the court.
The prosecution’s submissions came after Najib’s lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, argued in mitigation that the offences arose from a single factual matrix and should attract moderated punishment, with any prison terms running concurrently.
The court is now set to consider both sides’ arguments before delivering its decision on sentencing in one of the most consequential corruption cases in Malaysia’s legal history.
Prosecutors Seek Up to RM11 Billion in Fines
In a new development, prosecutors have asked the High Court to impose fines totalling as much as RM11 billion on Najib following his conviction on multiple charges.
The proposed fines relate to four counts of abuse of power and are calculated at up to five times the value of the graft involved.
Lead prosecutor Akram told the court that such a financial penalty was justified given the extraordinary scale of the offences and the vast sums of public money misappropriated under Najib’s watch.
During the proceedings, presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah questioned the prosecution on the consequences should Najib be unable to pay the fines.
In response, Akram said the law provides for imprisonment in default of payment.
According to the prosecution, Najib would face up to ten years’ imprisonment for each charge if the fines were not settled, in accordance with the statutory provisions governing abuse of power offences.
The application for record-breaking fines came amid wider submissions by the prosecution seeking maximum custodial sentences and consecutive terms of imprisonment, arguing that only the heaviest penalties would reflect the seriousness of the crimes and serve the public interest.
The court is expected to weigh the prosecution’s demands against defence pleas for leniency before delivering its sentencing decision in one of Malaysia’s most consequential corruption cases. - December 26, 2025
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