KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had orchestrated the siphoning of funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) through the wiles and deception of his proxy, fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, says the High Court.
Trial Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is now a Federal Court judge, said the accused and Jho Low had worked hand in hand to carefully and meticulously fashion a complex web of deceit through a series of transactions that resulted in funds being siphoned from 1MDB and, through multiple layers of transfers, eventually finding their way into the accused’s private bank accounts.
“The evidence clearly points to the fact that this was no coincidence but was indicative of a relationship in which Jho Low operated as a proxy or agent of the accused in relation to the management of 1MDB’s affairs.
“The attempt by the accused to distance himself from Jho Low rang hollow in light of the overwhelming evidence adduced by these prosecution witnesses,” he said in his 810-page grounds of judgment released today.
Justice Sequerah said the evidence showed that Jho Low was heavily involved in the affairs of 1MDB with the unequivocal blessing of the accused.
“All the evidence, when viewed cumulatively, formed a continuous and consistent pattern that led to the irresistible conclusion that the accused had taken various actions, some of them drastic, in relation to matters involving 1MDB in which he undoubtedly had an interest,” he said, adding that the evidence also pointed unmistakably to Jho Low’s role as the accused’s intermediary in the affairs of 1MDB.
In the much-awaited full written judgment, Justice Sequerah also said no such report had been lodged against Jho Low in respect of these wrongdoings.
He said such an omission can only reasonably be construed to amount to an act of condonation on the part of the accused, who at the material time, wielded considerable powers as both Finance Minister, Chairman of the Board of Advisors and Prime Minister.
“The accused was no country bumpkin but was possessed of not only an impeccable family and political pedigree but of superior intelligence given his academic background and his previous experience in politics and in the administration, not only regionally but also at the national level.
“Any attempt to paint the accused as an ignoramus who was hopelessly unaware of the misdeeds going on around him must therefore fail miserably,” he said, adding that the defence version advanced that the accused was misled and duped by management and by Jho Low is unmeritorious.
He said another factor to be taken into account was that, as the scale of the financial scandal began to emerge publicly, the accused took steps to conceal the offences.
This included disbanding the task force established to investigate the scandal and attempting to persuade the then-Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia to issue a statement clearing him of any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, Justice Sequerah also noted that the accused has shown no remorse for the offences committed, instead choosing to blame others, including the management of 1MDB.
“This lack of remorse is a highly relevant factor to consider in sentencing,” he said.
On Dec 26, 2025, Justice Sequerah sentenced Najib, 72, to 15 years in jail and imposed a total fine of RM11.4 billion after finding him guilty on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion in funds linked to 1MDB.
— BERNAMA