1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal

1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) was a state investment fund set up in 2009 by then–Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Its goal was to promote economic development in Malaysia through global partnerships and foreign investments.

The Scandal

• Between 2009 and 2015, an estimated US$4.5 billion was diverted from 1MDB into private accounts and shell companies.


• Funds were allegedly laundered through banks in Singapore, Switzerland, the U.S., and Luxembourg.

Legal Actions

• Najib Razak was convicted in 2020 for corruption and money laundering, sentenced to 12 years in prison.


• Jho Low remains a fugitive, reportedly hiding overseas.


• Goldman Sachs paid over $2.9 billion in global settlements (2020).


• Several other officials and associates were prosecuted across multiple countries.