Mohd Najib bin Abdul Razak · criminal prosecution · public corruption · money laundering · clemency
Was Najib Razak convicted over SRC International and 1MDB, and what is his sentence now?
Yes. His SRC International conviction on seven charges became final on 23 August 2022 when the Federal Court dismissed his appeal, and the Pardons Board in 2024 halved the 12-year term to six years and cut the fine to RM50 million. On 26 December 2025 the High Court convicted him on four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges in the main 1MDB case and imposed 15 years and fines of about RM11.38 billion, to run after the SRC term. That conviction is under appeal. On 18 September 2026 the King granted a conditional pardon allowing house arrest for the rest of the SRC term subject to payment of the RM50 million fine, and as of 28 October 2026 he remained in prison with the fine reported unpaid.
Last verified 30 October 2026. Malaysia
The record at a glance
| What was alleged? | Prosecutors charged that Najib abused his position and committed criminal breach of trust and money laundering over RM42 million of SRC International funds paid into his accounts. In the main 1MDB case prosecutors charged him with four counts of abusing his position to receive about RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same sum.1,2,3 |
|---|---|
| Who made the claim? | Public Prosecutor of Malaysia, 28 July 2020 |
| How did Najib Razak respond? | Najib denied wrongdoing. In the 1MDB trial his position was that the money was a political donation from Saudi Arabia and that he was misled by financiers led by Low Taek Jho, according to the Associated Press. After the 1MDB verdict he said in a statement read by his lawyer that he remained confident in the judiciary and would continue his legal fight, and he has appealed. After the 2026 conditional pardon his lawyers said he was grateful to the King and was considering how to meet the fine condition.3,4,5,6 (the subject's position) |
| Was there an official finding? | The SRC International conviction on seven charges is final after the Federal Court dismissed the appeal on 23 August 2022.7 The Pardons Board reduced the SRC sentence to six years and the fine to RM50 million in 2024. This reduced the penalty and did not set aside the conviction.8 The High Court convicted Najib in the main 1MDB case on 26 December 2025 and he filed an appeal.2,5 A conditional pardon granted on 18 September 2026 allows house arrest until 23 August 2028 if the RM50 million fine is paid.11,12 |
| Was liability determined? | Yes, liability was determined. SRC International: convicted, conviction final, sentence later reduced by the Pardons Board and made subject to a conditional pardon permitting house arrest. 1MDB main case: convicted at first instance on 26 December 2025, appeal pending, so that conviction is not final. The status 'determined' refers to the final SRC conviction only.2,5,7,8,11 |
| What changed later? | As of 30 October 2026 Najib remains in Kajang Prison serving the final SRC sentence (he was reported attending a Federal Court matter from prison on 28 October 2026), a conditional pardon for house arrest awaits payment of the RM50 million fine, and his appeal against the 26 December 2025 1MDB conviction is pending after the High Court refused a stay on 14 October 2026.13,14,15,16,17,18 |
| When was this checked? | 30 October 2026 |
What was alleged?
Prosecutors charged that Najib abused his position and committed criminal breach of trust and money laundering over RM42 million of SRC International funds paid into his accounts. In the main 1MDB case prosecutors charged him with four counts of abusing his position to receive about RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same sum.1,2,3
Made by Public Prosecutor of Malaysia on 28 July 2020.
What did Najib Razak say?
Najib denied wrongdoing. In the 1MDB trial his position was that the money was a political donation from Saudi Arabia and that he was misled by financiers led by Low Taek Jho, according to the Associated Press. After the 1MDB verdict he said in a statement read by his lawyer that he remained confident in the judiciary and would continue his legal fight, and he has appealed. After the 2026 conditional pardon his lawyers said he was grateful to the King and was considering how to meet the fine condition.3,4,5,6
"Regardless of today's court outcome, I remain confident towards the nation's judiciary."
Najib Razak, statement read by counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (as reported by Malay Mail), 26 December 2025. This is the subject's own account, not a finding.
What do independent records show?
SRC International verdict (as reported by Al Jazeera)
High Court of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 28 July 2020
Najib was found guilty on all seven charges, one of abuse of power, three of criminal breach of trust and three of money laundering, and sentenced to 12 years and a RM210 million fine.1,7
Decision on final appeal in the SRC International case (as reported by Malay Mail)
Federal Court of Malaysia (five-judge panel led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat), 23 August 2022
The panel unanimously dismissed the appeal, found the convictions on all seven charges safe and the sentence not manifestly excessive, and ordered Najib to begin serving his sentence. The Court of Appeal had upheld the verdict on 8 December 2021.7
Statement on the decision of the 29 January meeting
Pardons Board for the Federal Territories (statement issued by the Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister's Department), 2 February 2024
The board halved the prison term to six years with an early release date of 23 August 2028 and reduced the fine to RM50 million. If the fine is unpaid the term is extended by one year.8
Judgment on judicial review over the alleged royal addendum (as reported by The Vibes)
High Court of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (Justice Alice Loke Yee Ching), 22 December 2025
The court held the addendum allowing house arrest invalid because it was not considered or approved by the Pardons Board as Article 42 of the Federal Constitution requires. Najib later withdrew his appeal, as reported on 27 April 2026.9,10
Verdict and sentence in the main 1MDB case (as reported by The Vibes and the Associated Press)
High Court of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah), 26 December 2025
Najib was convicted on four counts of abuse of position and 21 counts of money laundering. He was sentenced to 15 years on each abuse count, concurrent, with fines totalling about RM11.38 billion, the sentence to begin after the SRC term, and was ordered to repay about RM2.08 billion. The judge found the Saudi donation claim incapable of belief.2,3
Statement on conditional pardon
Pardons Board for the Federal Territories, 64th meeting (announced by the Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister's Department), 18 September 2026
The King consented to a conditional pardon allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until 23 August 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine, with automatic revocation on breach of conditions.11,12
Decision on application for stay of execution of the 1MDB sentence
High Court of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur (Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin), 14 October 2026
The court refused to stay the 15-year term and fines pending appeal, finding the special circumstances test not satisfied.13,14
What was established?
- The SRC International conviction on seven charges is final after the Federal Court dismissed the appeal on 23 August 2022.7
- The Pardons Board reduced the SRC sentence to six years and the fine to RM50 million in 2024. This reduced the penalty and did not set aside the conviction.8
- The High Court convicted Najib in the main 1MDB case on 26 December 2025 and he filed an appeal.2,5
- A conditional pardon granted on 18 September 2026 allows house arrest until 23 August 2028 if the RM50 million fine is paid.11,12
Distinctions that matter here
- A reduction of sentence or a conditional pardon by the Pardons Board changes the penalty. It does not quash the conviction.
- The SRC conviction is final. The 1MDB conviction is a first-instance verdict under appeal.
- House arrest under the 2026 conditional pardon is a way of serving the sentence, not a release from it.
Was liability determined?
Yes, liability was determined. SRC International: convicted, conviction final, sentence later reduced by the Pardons Board and made subject to a conditional pardon permitting house arrest. 1MDB main case: convicted at first instance on 26 December 2025, appeal pending, so that conviction is not final. The status 'determined' refers to the final SRC conviction only.2,5,7,8,11
What remains unresolved?
- The 1MDB appeal has not been heard and no hearing date was found in the sources reviewed.
- Whether and when Najib pays the RM50 million fine and moves to house arrest.
- How the conditional pardon interacts with the 1MDB sentence, which is ordered to start after the SRC term ends. Najib's lawyers said they would seek a stay at the Court of Appeal.
- The full terms of the conditional pardon were not published.
What is the current status?
As of 30 October 2026 Najib remains in Kajang Prison serving the final SRC sentence (he was reported attending a Federal Court matter from prison on 28 October 2026), a conditional pardon for house arrest awaits payment of the RM50 million fine, and his appeal against the 26 December 2025 1MDB conviction is pending after the High Court refused a stay on 14 October 2026.13,14,15,16,17,18
As of 30 October 2026. No next proceeding is scheduled in the records we found.
Timeline
- High Court convicts Najib on seven SRC International charges and imposes 12 years and a RM210 million fine.1
- Court of Appeal upholds the SRC conviction and sentence.7
- Federal Court dismisses the final appeal and Najib begins serving his sentence.7,19
- Pardons Board decision announced, halving the term and cutting the fine to RM50 million.8
- High Court rules the alleged royal addendum on house arrest invalid.9
- High Court convicts Najib on 25 charges in the main 1MDB case and sentences him.2,3
- Najib's appeal against the 1MDB conviction and sentence is reported filed.5
- Najib withdraws his appeal over the addendum ruling.10
- Pardons Board defers his fresh clemency application.20
- Conditional pardon announced, allowing house arrest until 23 August 2028 subject to the RM50 million fine.11,12
- High Court refuses to stay the 1MDB sentence pending appeal.13,14
- Federal Court allows Najib to attend, from prison, a hearing in his civil suit against a former Attorney General, indicating he had not yet moved to house arrest.17
Sources
- Al Jazeera, Malaysia's Najib guilty of all charges in 1MDB-linked graft case, 28 July 2020 Independent reporting
- The Vibes, Najib to appeal 1MDB verdict, could remain in prison until 2043, 27 December 2025 Independent reporting
- Manila Bulletin, Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak convicted in trial over 1MDB corruption scandal (Associated Press), 26 December 2025 Independent reporting
- Malay Mail, After 1MDB conviction, Najib urges Malaysians to stay calm, vows to continue legal fight, 26 December 2025 Independent reporting
- Malay Mail, Najib files appeal against 1MDB conviction, 15 years jail term and RM11.38b fine, 30 December 2025 Independent reporting
- The Vibes, Najib thanks King for mercy following conditional pardon, 20 September 2026 Independent reporting
- Malay Mail, Najib fails in final SRC International appeal as Federal Court upholds conviction and sentence, 23 August 2022 Independent reporting
- Malay Mail, Pardons Board agrees to cut Najib's jail term by half, out by August 23, 2028 if RM50m fine paid, 2 February 2024 Independent reporting
- The Vibes, High Court affirms constitutional limits on royal clemency in Najib's failed house arrest bid, 22 December 2025 Independent reporting
- The Sun (Malaysia), Najib withdraws house arrest appeal, lawyer silent, 27 April 2026 Independent reporting
- Malay Mail, Najib gets conditional pardon to serve remainder of sentence under house arrest, 18 September 2026 Independent reporting
- The Star (Malaysia), The King has consented to conditional pardon of house arrest for Najib, 18 September 2026 Independent reporting
- The Star (Malaysia), Court 'no' to Najib's bid for stay of execution in RM2.3bil 1MDB case, 14 October 2026 Independent reporting
- The Jakarta Post, Malaysia court denies Najib Razak's request to suspend 15-year jail term (Reuters), 14 October 2026 Independent reporting
- The Star (Malaysia), RM2.3bil 1MDB case: Najib to file fresh bid for stay of sentence at appellate court, 14 October 2026 Independent reporting
- The Vibes, Najib house arrest rules near completion but ex-PM remains in prison, 18 October 2026 Independent reporting
- Malay Mail, Najib allowed to attend Federal Court hearing in bid to revive RM1.9m suit against former AG Tommy Thomas, 28 October 2026 Independent reporting
- Malay Mail, Saifuddin Nasution: Najib's house arrest conditions being finalised, but RM50m fine yet to be settled, 18 October 2026 Independent reporting
- The Edge Malaysia, Najib's house arrest bid: An explainer on the eve of the apex court's decision, 12 August 2025 Independent reporting
- The Star (Malaysia), Pardons Board defers decision on Najib's application, 12 September 2026 Independent reporting
Revision history
- 30 October 2026: First published after source verification.
Related: Mohd Najib bin Abdul Razak, criminal prosecution, public corruption, money laundering, clemency, Malaysia. To submit a document or request a correction, see right of reply.