SRC appeal: Najib directed to apply for UK Queen’s Counsel by May 20

 

The Federal Court gave Najib Abdul Razak until May 20 to file an application for admission of a Queen’s Counsel (QC) from the United Kingdom (UK) to submit in his appeal in the RM42 million SRC International graft case.

The apex court gave this direction to the former prime minister’s lawyers during case management of his appeal to quash his conviction and sentencing in the corruption case.

Previously, it was reported that Najib was seeking a QC to submit in his appeal to reverse the guilty verdict as well as 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine over one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), and three counts of money laundering involving RM42 million of SRC funds.The former premier reportedly sought a QC due to complex issues and legal questions in the appeal.

The title of QC is awarded by the Queen of the UK to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in conducting advocacy in court.

When contacted by the media this morning, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul, who acted for the prosecution, confirmed the outcome of today’s Federal Court case management.

“For the main appeal (Najib’s bid to reverse the SRC ruling), the next case management is on Feb 25, 2022 at 3pm, with instructions to the appellant (Najib) to file their application for admission of the QC by May 20, 2022.

“The hearing for admission (of the QC) is tentatively fixed on a date between June 20 to 24. The actual date of hearing will be confirmed at the next case management,” Ashrof said.

Defence counsel Syahirah Hanapiah appeared for Najib in today’s case management.

Besides Ashrof, the prosecution was also represented by DPP V Sithambaram.

At present, Najib has two appeals before the Federal Court, one is the main one to quash his conviction as well as the 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine in the main SRC corruption case, while the other is over his bid to adduce fresh evidence in the main appeal.

On Dec 7 last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed his application to adduce fresh evidence in his appeal against the RM42 million SRC graft case.

The next day (Dec 8), the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal to overturn the guilty verdict and sentencing in the SRC case.

Previously a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC later became fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated.

Besides being former prime minister, Najib also used to be finance minister, SRC’s adviser emeritus, and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers. - Mkini