Najib Abdul Razak’s new legal team will again seek to postpone the hearing of the former prime minister’s appeal in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case, next week.
However, in the event that the apex court still decides to proceed with the appeal hearing, the lawyers from Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners led by Hisyam Teh Poh Teik (above) will discharge themselves from acting for Najib in the matter.
It is understood that this was conveyed to the Federal Court during case management this afternoon.
The case management was over Najib’s bid to adduce fresh evidence to nullify his conviction over seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering involving RM42 million of funds from SRC.
Next Monday, the Federal Court is set to first hear the fresh evidence bid, followed by the main SRC appeal which also targeted Najib’s 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine.
The court had previously rejected a bid by Najib’s new legal team to postpone the appeal hearing.
The media learnt that during the case management conducted online, the court had informed the legal teams for both Najib and the prosecution that in the event that it dismisses the fresh evidence bid on Monday, then it would proceed to hear the main SRC appeal.
Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners had indicated to the court that they are not ready to proceed with the main appeal as it involved major issues and required more time for preparation.
The lawyers also informed the court that if it still insists to proceed with the main appeal, then they would have no choice but to discharge from representing Najib.
The court had also removed one day (Aug 22) from the initially set 10 days of the main appeal’s hearing. As a result, the hearing will now run from Aug 15 to 19, followed by Aug 23 to 26.
Court’s discretion whether to proceed
If the new legal team discharges from acting for Najib, the apex court has the discretion to proceed with the appeal hearing or allow further postponement for the appellant to get new legal representation.
On Dec 8 last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Najib’s appeal to overturn the 2020 ruling by Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who was then a judge of the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, who found Najib guilty and imposed the sentences. Nazlan has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal.
The conviction and fine are for one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust, and three counts of money laundering related to RM42 million of SRC’s funds.
Previously a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC later became fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc). 1MDB is also fully owned by MOF Inc.
Najib also used to be SRC’s adviser emeritus and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers. - Mkini
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