On December 26, 2025, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and years and an additional $2.8 billion for his role in the 1MDB scandal after being found guilty on all 25 counts. 1MDB scandal is considered one of the top five biggest scandals in the world. Judge Sequerah gained notoriety after being in charge of the case, but what is even more interesting is that the case still has to be completed, and there is no recon petition yet. We will cover Judge Sequerah’s career, background, and decisions related to the case in this article.
Who is Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah has turned 65 on October 21, 2020, and is originally from Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. With regards to his ethnic and cultural roots, Sequerah’s surname roots from the Sequerah family in Malacca, Malaysia, who, back in the 16th century, were Portuguese settlers. The family is part of the Portuguese Eurasian community which formed as a result of the intermarriage of Portuguese colonizers with local Malays and Javanese. This community, as part of a mixed ethnic group, identifies as Portuguese Eurasian and consists of a European and Asian blend of heritage. It is also noteworthy that the Portuguese Eurasian community in Malaya culturally and systematically practices Roman Catholicism, which has also been embedded in Sequerah’s family.
Sequerah has earned an LL.B (Hons) from the University of London in 1984, and the same year was called to the Bar of England and Wales at Lincoln’s Inn. Following that, Sequerah also earned an LL.M with distinction from Universiti Malaya in 2006. With his rich academic qualifications Sequerah is well equipped to develop and advance a stellar career in the legal profession.
Early Life and Education of Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah
Born in 1960, Collin Lawrence Sequerah is very well known in Malaysia’s court system. He is known for his ability to keep his famous temper in check and for being methodical in his processing of cases. He remains an enigma to the Malaysian public, as he is very quiet concerning his personal life. Sequerah’s life is a life of a public servant, a private practitioner, and an award winning legal professional as is evidenced in the judicial profiles sprinkled throughout the s Malaysia’s legal system. He is very well regarded throughout the legal community. Sequerah’s journey exemplifies the transition many Malaysian lawyers make from corporate law to judicial roles, bringing practical experience to complex cases like the 1MDB scandal.
Judge Collins Legal Career and Judicial Appointments
Before being appointed to the bench, Collin Lawrence Sequerah practiced law for almost thirty years in the private sector. As a partner in a couple of law firms where he practiced corporate, finance, and securities law, he built a solid background in commercial law and mastered the art of resolving complex financial issues and disputes.
Sequerah’s first foray into the judiciary happened on June 20, 2014, when he was appointed as Judicial Commissioner. He became a High Court Judge on January 30, 2017, and served in different jurisdictions, including Johor, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur. He was conferred the title of Datuk in 2021 by the Penang governor, probably in recognition of his judicial service. Sequerah continued to progress in his judicial career after he was appointed to the Court of Appeal and then the Federal Court on December 3, 2025.
Judge Sequerah has had the opportunity to hear and determine a number of high-profile cases, including some of the corruption cases involving former politicians Najib Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He is known for his impartiality and for being thorough in his evaluation of the evidence, including in the lengthy 1MDB trials.
The 1MDB Scandal: Context and Judge Sequerah's Involvement
The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal exposed billions of dollars alleged losses from state-owned funds. It named former prime minister Najib Razak and fugitive financier Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) as implicated. Najib was implicated and charged 25 times: 4 abuse of power and 21 money laundering for funds misappropriated (roughly RM2.3 billion or 500 million dollars).
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who was at that time, High Court Judge, was assigned to this case. It lasted 303 days of court and had more than 70 witnesses to testify. It was for this reason that his position was considered important from the beginning. He declared in 2023 that he was professionally associated with 1MDB’s former General Counsel, Jasmine Loo, but proceeded after informing all the parties. This statement was proof of the trust he had in his position.
In the course of the trial, Sequerah had to deal with a multitude of evidence, financial documents, and witness accounts to fraudulently link former PM Najib. He pointedly rejected and rebuffed attempts by the defense to shift the blame from Najib’s wrongdoing by stating that he had no idea on the wrongdoing.
Details of the Najib 1MDB Verdict Delivered by Judge Sequerah
On December 26, 2025, Judge Sequerah took five hours to deliver a detailed judgment. He found Najib guilty on all counts, but he was more concerned with explaining in detail the bond and connection Najib had in the 1MDB case with Jho Low, who was Najib’s proxy.
Noteworthy findings are:
- Abuse Of Power: Due to his positions as the prime minister, finance minister, and the chairman of the board of advisers, he could commit the fraud as he was the “apex decision maker” for the 1MDB transactions.
- Money Laundering: There was multi-layered money laundering and the proceeds of crime were for Davos social media management and countering perception management, and for political and personal gain of Najib.
- Defenses Rejection: Due to his baffling family ties, profound political stature, and grand intelligence, Sequerah dismissed the defense claims that Najib was misled, saying that he was “no country bumpkin”. Defenses trying to portray him as dumb “met with a staggering no”.
Final Statement: 15 years for each abuse of power charge, and 5 years for each money laundering charge, to run for a total of 15 years in prison. On top of that a fine of RM11.38 billion (around US$2.8 billion). Najib’s lawyers are preparing for an appeal, but he is on bail.
Implications of the Verdict and Judge Sequerah's Legacy
This sentence is Najibs \second major conviction in the 1MDB case which adds to the 12 year sentence he got in 2022. It shows that malaysia is trying to fight corruption and take back stolen money and have a position on the global stage for defending financial integrity.
This case finalizes the reputation of Judge Sequerah as being fair and having the backbone to handle politically sensitive cases. He has been moved to the Federal Court just a few weeks before this conviction which shows the confidence in him from the Malaysian judiciary system.
Conclusion: A Milestone in Malaysian Justice
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah’s role in the Najib Razak 1MDB verdict exemplifies the judiciary’s crucial function in holding power to account. From his roots in private practice to presiding over one of Malaysia’s most significant trials, Sequerah’s career highlights dedication to justice amid complex financial scandals. As appeals loom, the 1MDB case continues to unfold, but Sequerah’s detailed judgment stands as a testament to thorough legal scrutiny in the face of high-stakes corruption. For more stories like these, make sure to also read: Undang-undang Bakakuk: Hukuman untuk Pemilik Senjata Buatan Sendiri
