Najib's lawyer has three days to prep oral submissions

 

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik reiterated that he would not be making oral submissions when proceedings resume on Tuesday (Aug 23).

However, Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the Federal Court will still give him the opportunity to prepare oral submissions.

The top judge said the lawyer has tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday to prepare.

When she asked whether Hisyam was not prepared even to make oral submissions next week, the lawyer affirmed this.

“You have tomorrow (namely) Saturday, Sunday, Monday, three days. Don’t tell us you are not prepared to submit on the 94 grounds in the petition of appeal.

“It is alright if you are not ready to file written submissions. You can always submit orally. It is your liberty,” Tengku Maimun said.

She was referring to the 94-ground Petition of Appeal filed by Najib's then legal team headed by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

The bench then adjourned proceedings for today, which are set to continue on Tuesday next week.

Deputy public prosecutor V Sithambaram earlier wrapped up his oral arguments against Najib’s appeal.

Earlier today, the Federal Court denied Hisyam’s bid to adjourn proceedings on Tuesday and Wednesday next week as the defence lawyer has another court matter to attend.

The five-person bench previously dismissed his bid to adjourn the hearing of the main SRC appeal for three to four months for more time to prepare for the case adequately. The court also denied his application to discharge himself from representing Najib because he could not provide proper legal representation.

During a press conference at the Palace of Justice yesterday, Najib lamented that the apex court rulings led to his situation being akin to having no legal representation.

On July 28, 2020, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Najib guilty of one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust and three money laundering charges involving RM42 million of funds from SRC.

Having meted out the sentence of 12 years in jail and RM210 million fine, judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, however, allowed the defence’s bid to stay the execution of the sentence pending disposal of the appeal.

Nazlan has since been elevated to the Appellate Court.

On Dec 8 last year, the Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s ruling and dismissed Najib’s appeal.

SRC International and Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB are fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF) Inc.

Initially a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC was later fully transferred to MOF Inc.

Najib also used to be finance minister, advisor emeritus to SRC, and chairperson of the board of advisors of 1MDB. - Mkini