Najib’s new legal team fails in bid to postpone final SRC appeal

Kuala Lumpur, July 29 — Najib Razak’s newly appointed legal team has failed in its bid to seek a postponement of the former prime minister’s final appeal in the SRC International case at the Federal Court next month. The apex court will hear his appeal for 10 days from Aug 15 as scheduled.

The matter was confirmed by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul when contacted by reporters today after an online case management before Federal Court deputy registrator Wan Fatimah Zahara Wan Yusoff and deputy registrar Siti Hajar Mustaffa.

Last Tuesday, it was reported that Najib had discharged with immediate effect Messrs Shafee & Co from representing him in his SRC appeal.

Najib then appointed lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik from Messrs Hisyam as his lead counsel, and Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners’ partners Liew Teck Huat and Rueben Mathiavaranam as his new solicitors.

Last May, the Federal Court set 10 days in August to hear the Pekan MP’s final appeal to set aside his conviction and jail sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International funds.

Mohd Ashrof said the court dismissed an application by the Pekan MP’s new legal team to adjourn the hearing scheduled from Aug 15.

He said the court also instructed that the main appeal be done through physical hearing and parties must list down all references to records of appeal to ensure a smooth proceeding before the Federal Court.

“Today is the case management for the application for fresh evidence filed by Najib’s previous counsels from Shafee & Co. Then, the amendment to the said motion for fresh evidence.”

“Then the issue for change of solicitors for the main appeal. The (apex) court has informed that the hearing date fixed from Aug 15 to 26 is maintained. The fresh evidence application is to be heard also on Aug 15 together with the main appeal,” said the prosecutor.

The motion for fresh evidence here refers to Najib’s application on June 7, to adduce further evidence to the Federal Court to nullify the entire trial, over a claim that the trial judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali was affected by conflict of interest.

NMT as reported by Bernama