Najib Abdul Razak’s newly appointed lawyers are seeking for the apex court to adjourn the scheduled 10-day hearing next month on the former premier’s appeal in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.
According to a letter from law firm Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners to the Federal Court dated today, the legal team said this is because they were just appointed to represent Najib in the appeal.
The letter, signed by the firm’s senior partner Liew Teck Huat, states that Najib instructed them to seek adjournment of the SRC appeal hearing scheduled from Aug 15 to 26.
The lawyer said it is because “on the basis that a wholly new team has taken over conduct of the above matter”.
Liew added that the new legal team led by Hisyam Teh Poh Teik will act for Najib in the SRC appeal, with himself as well as Rueben Mathiaravanam as co-counsel.
“We sincerely apologise to the honourable court for all the inconvenience caused by this request.
“Your kind consideration in this matter is highly appreciated and we thank the honourable court for the same,” the letter says.
In the correspondence, the firm also said that they have Najib’s instructions to withdraw another appeal, namely against a recent rejection by the High Court in Kuala Lumpur of the application for a Queen’s Counsel (QC) from the United Kingdom, Jonathan Laidlaw, to represent the former prime minister in the SRC appeal.
Earlier today, it was reported that Najib dropped lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s law firm Shafee & Co from acting for him in the SRC appeal.
Najib expresses confidence
Later this afternoon, Najib in a media statement expressed confidence in the new batch of lawyers representing him in the appeal.
In confirming the appointment effective yesterday, Najib said it was done following the High Court's denial of a bid to permit Laidlaw and following consultation with senior legal practitioners in Singapore and India.
Najib said the new legal team “will bring different perspectives” to his defence, and that the case involved a serious issue of conflict of interest involving the SRC trial judge.
He clarified that lawyers from Shafee & Co would still be acting for him in other cases in the courts, thus it was unfair of the media to conclude or report that the firm has been “evicted or ditched”.
Najib expressed his support and appreciation for his entire legal team for their continuing commitment and effort to ensure he is given a fair trial.
The appellant explained that he joined many others in their confidence that the Malaysian legal system and legal processes will prove his innocence and provide justice that all Malaysians deserve in law.
10 days to hear the final appeal
Najib added that he did not wish to comment further as the matter is pending before the apex court.
The Federal Court has set 10 days in August to hear the final appeal by Najib, who is also a former finance minister, to quash his conviction and sentence of 12 years in jail and a fine of RM210 million.
The conviction and fine are for one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), and three counts of money laundering linked to RM42 million from SRC.
On Dec 8 last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Najib’s appeal to overturn the 2020 ruling by the then Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who found Najib guilty and imposed the sentences.
Nazlan has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal.
Previously a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC later became fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc). The 1MDB is also fully owned by MOF Inc.
besides being the finance minister as well then, Najib also served as SRC’s adviser emeritus and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers. - Mkini
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