[UPDATED] Covid-19 scare threatens to delay Najib’s SRC conviction appeal

KUALA LUMPUR – The decision involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal against his conviction in the SRC International Sdn Bhd tomorrow could be delayed following the revelation that a member of his legal team has tested positive for Covid-19.

According to the New Straits Times, the Pekan MP’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has applied to the Court of Appeal via its registrar to vacate tomorrow’s date as well as today’s date, which had been set by the court to hear Najib’s application to include fresh evidence related to the case.

It is learnt that Shafee’s son Muhammad Farhan had tested positive for the virus, which prompted the notice to be sent to registrar’s office late yesterday.

In the said notice, Shafee had stated that the entire defence team including his client have been classified as close or casual contacts with Farhan and that the judges involved needed to be notified of the matter.

Najib, Shafee further stated, is considered a close contact to the legal team as he had visited them at the firm to discuss the case.

The team had been exposed to the virus after one of the team member’s mother tested positive for the virus following a celebration at their house.

Subsequent tests saw the entire team testing negative, with the exception of Farhan.

The team’s MySejahtera statuses were classified as close or casual contacts of Covid-19 victims following the results.

On July 28 last year, Najib was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and fined RM210 million at the Kuala Lumpur High Court after he was found guilty of corruption concerning SRC International funds.

The Pekan MP was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering, and one count of abuse of power.

While delivering the judgement, Mohamad Nazlan Mohamad Ghazali said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. – The Vibes, December 7, 2021