Lawyers deny they took over as Najib's counsel to seek adjournment

The firm of Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners has disputed a claim that it took over as counsel in former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's SRC International trial for the sole purpose of seeking an adjournment.

Yesterday, in objecting to Najib’s review bid, prosecutor V Sithambaram said:

“The previous solicitors (Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners) should not have taken over the case if they were not prepared to proceed from Aug 15 to 26, 2022.

“But that was not the case. The previous solicitors took over the case with the sole purpose of asking for an adjournment.”

V Sithambaram

This is being hotly denied by Zaid (top picture) and fellow lawyers, Liew Teck Huat and Rueben Mathiavaranam.

"We are obliged to point out that the statement attributed to us is absolutely incorrect. This incorrect statement is most regrettable. It is unwarranted and casts unfair aspersions on us as advocates, solicitors, and officers of the court.

"There is neither any basis nor any evidence for the learned prosecutor to make this statement in court," said the trio.

They said they were appointed as solicitors in this matter by Najib, following which the former prime minister - on his own volition - appointed Hisyam Teh Poh Teik as lead counsel to replace Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

"Teh was neither instructed nor retained by us. By the time we came on board, the motion to adduce fresh evidence had already been filed.

"We, therefore, worked with Teh to deal with the application to adduce fresh evidence at the hearing.

"At the commencement of the hearing, Teh argued for the application to adduce fresh evidence. The court took time (off) for consideration.

"The following day (Aug 16, 2022), the court, having considered the arguments, dismissed the motion to adduce fresh evidence," they said.

Hisyam Teh Poh Teik (left)with Najib Abdul Razak

They pointed out that Teh then sought an adjournment of three to four months for the hearing of the substantive appeal, which was declined, while a very short adjournment of two days was granted.

"When the substantive appeal came up for hearing on Aug 18, 2022, Teh again sought an adjournment.

"When this was not allowed, he asked to be discharged as counsel. The Federal Court refused the application of Teh to be discharged.

"At no point did the judges of the Federal Court direct or ask Zaid Ibrahim, Liew Teck Huat, or Rueben Mathiavaranam if they would submit in place of Teh. This is because, at all material times, we were the solicitors on record," they said.

The trio added that on Aug 19, 2022, Najib discharged their firm as solicitors and that was the end of its involvement in the trial.

"Given the above factual context, the comments attributed to us that we accepted the appointment as solicitors solely to obtain an adjournment is factually incorrect," they said. - Mkini