Most countries are ruled by political leaders, whether a prime minister or a President. Here are 7 most corrupt political leaders in history.
7 Most Corrupt Poitical Leaders In History
7. Slobodan Milosevic – President of Serbia (1989–2000)
Funds Embezzled: $1 billion
Milosevic was a key figure in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. He became the president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1997. He’s known for the Yugoslavian war and humanity crimes. He was put on trial for war crimes by the UN whilst still in power in 1999, eventually losing power in the 2000 elections. He was arrested soon after by Yugoslav authorities on charges of corruption and embezzlement with his trial lasting five years. He died in prison in 2006.
6. Najib Razak – Prime Minister of Malaysia (2009-2018)
Funds Embezzled: $4.5 billion
Najib Razak had been a politician in Malaysia for decades before he was elected prime minister in 2009. Due to his links with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad investment firm, which had been accused of embezzling money from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. He was arrested by Malaysian anti-corruption investigators and found guilty of embezzling $1 billion, with more expected held in assets. He was jailed in 2022 for 12 years and fined $45 million.
5. Sani Abacha – President of Nigeria (1993–1998)
Funds Embezzled: $2-$5 billion
Sani Abacha began his career as a military officer and became leader of Nigeria after seizing power in 1993. Abacha directly stole money sent from Nigeria’s central bank, laundered it abroad, and deposited it in offshore bank accounts, he died in a suspect heart attack on June 8, 1998. Estimates vary but in Jersey alone, they discovered an account holding $267 million linked to Abacha.
4. Mobutu Sese Seko – President of Congo (1965–1997)
Funds Embezzled: $5 billion
Mobutu is the former President of Congo who served a larger period of almost 32 years. He was later thrown out of power by the political rebellion Kabila. Mobutu fled to Togo, died due to cancer.
3. Viktor Yanukovych – President of Ukraine (2002-2014)
Funds Embezzled: $5 billion
During Yanukovychtime in office, he became increasingly sympathetic to his affiliation with Russia. After the Ukrainian parliament voted to sign documents to more closely tie the country to the EU, he fled to Russia and entered a self-imposed exile. On 22nd February 2014, he was impeached, he was found to have used $220 million of state funds to set up a private communication.
2. Ferdinand Marcos – President of the Philippines (1972–1986)
Funds Embezzled: $7.5 billion
Marcos is the former and 10th President of the Philippines who served a period of almost 21 years. Macros dissolved congress and established martial law on fear of communism. He was forced to call a snap election in 1986, and was forced to flee to Hawaii. Marcos took with him around $717 million in cash, gold, and deposit slips totaling $124 million. All of this was amassed illegally during his time in power. He died in January 1995 without facing justice.
1. Mohamed Suharto – President of Indonesia (1967–1998)
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Funds Embezzled: $25 billion
Mohamed Suharto Seko is the former and 2nd President of Indonesia who served a larger period of almost 31 years. He is considered as the most corrupt politician in the world. During his tenure, he has earned a wealth of around $15 billion to $35 billion through corruption. He was ordered to repay $1.5 billion in scholarship funds that disappeared during his tenure. He was never prosecuted, because he was said to be too ill to stand trial. He died on 27th January 2008.