Najib may remain in prison until 2043 if all appeals fail

Najib may remain in prison until 2043 if all appeals fail


With cumulative sentences exceeding two decades, the former prime minister would be about 90 years old upon release

By DIANA AZIS
27 Dec 2025 12:18pm

A woman holds a hand fan bearing a photo of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and reading "Bossku" as supporters gather for his appeal hearing outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on Jan 6, 2025. - (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)



SHAH ALAM – Datuk Seri Najib Razak may only be released from prison in 2043 if he fails at all stages of appeal, including at the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

Based on current calculations, the former Prime Minister, who was born on July 23, 1953, would be about 90 years old by then if he is required to serve the full prison sentence imposed on him.


On Friday, the Putrajaya High Court sentenced the former Pekan MP to 15 years’ imprisonment and imposed a RM11.38 billion fine after finding him guilty on four counts of corruption and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion in funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah (now a Federal Court judge) ordered the prison sentences to run concurrently, but ruled that the sentence would only take effect after Najib completes his sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.




Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (centre) when he arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex in 2025. (Photo by Bernama)



Najib is currently serving his sentence at Kajang Prison after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. He was initially sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and fined RM210 million, which was later reduced to six years’ imprisonment and a RM50 million fine by the Pardons Board.


For the SRC case, Najib is scheduled to be released on Aug 23, 2028.



If his conviction in the 1MDB case is upheld at all levels and no sentence reduction is granted, the former Ummo president could face more than two decades in prison, leading to an estimated release around 2043.

In the 1MDB case, Najib was found guilty of abusing his position as Prime Minister and Finance Minister at the time to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion, as well as committing money laundering between 2011 and 2014 through accounts at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Bukit Ceylon.

He was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.