PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak will appeal the High Court's decision to sentence him to 15 years in prison and a fine of RM13.4 billion following his conviction in the 1MDB corruption case today.
His lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the appeal would be filed on Monday.
He also said the defence team looked forward to arguing what he described as blunders made in the case.
Earlier, Najib was sentenced to a total of 165 years' in prison and fined RM13.4 billion after he was found guilty of abuse of power and money laundering involving RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds.
However, the former prime minister will serve the sentences concurrently.
"Although I am very sad for my client in many respects, I am also happy.
"The more blunders a judge makes, the better our chances," he told a press conference after the ruling.
Shafee said among the matters to be argued on appeal was the admission of hearsay evidence throughout the trial.
Commenting further, Shafee said today's verdict marked the first time in his entire legal career that he had lost on every single ground presented.
"Not even a small crumb. The judge gave us nothing. Everything was given to the prosecution, nothing to us.
"I am not complaining about being given nothing, but on the balance of probabilities and in terms of statistics, we cannot be that incompetent as to lose on everything.
"I am looking forward to arguing the case at the Court of Appeal," he said. - NST
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