Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has applied for a stay of execution of his 15-year prison sentence and RM11.4 billion fine in a major case involving funds from state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The Kuala Lumpur High Court has scheduled a hearing for October 14, 2026, as Najib continues his legal appeal against the conviction.
Court Sets October 14 Hearing for Najib’s Application
Najib’s legal team submitted the application with a certificate of urgency, asking the court to delay enforcement of the sentence while his appeal proceeds. Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin set October 14 as the hearing date and directed both sides to submit their written arguments before the hearing.
The 73-year-old former prime minister was convicted in December 2025 in a separate 1MDB-related case involving allegations of abuse of power and money laundering. The court imposed a 15-year prison term and a fine of approximately RM11.4 billion.
The 15-year sentence was ordered to run after Najib completes his existing prison term connected to the SRC International case.
Request Comes After Conditional Royal Pardon
Najib’s latest legal move follows a conditional pardon granted by Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim, last week. Under the decision, Najib may serve the remainder of his reduced SRC International sentence under house arrest until his expected release in August 2028, subject to a RM50 million fine.
His lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, has said Najib has not yet been able to pay the RM50 million because a number of his assets and bank accounts remain frozen. His political party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), has also launched a fundraising effort to help meet the financial requirement.
Najib Continues to Deny Wrongdoing
Najib has been imprisoned since 2022 following his conviction over the SRC International case. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and has said he was misled about the origins of money deposited into accounts connected to him.
The broader 1MDB scandal has involved billions of dollars in alleged financial losses. Investigators in the United States and Malaysia have estimated that at least $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, with roughly $1 billion linked to accounts associated with Najib.
The upcoming October hearing will determine whether enforcement of the additional 15-year sentence and associated financial penalties can be suspended while Najib’s appeal continues.
