Federal Court rejects Najib’s bid to postpone SRC appeal hearing

KUALA LUMPUR – The Federal Court has rejected the appeal by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s new defence team to postpone the SRC International Sdn Bhd appeal hearing for next month. 

According to Malaysiakini, Najib’s appeal is scheduled for 10 days, starting August 15.

Last Tuesday, Najib’s new lead defence counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik sought the postponement following their appointment just weeks before the scheduled hearing date.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul confirmed that the Federal Court had rejected the application during case management in front of registrars Wan Fatimah and Siti Hajar Mustaffa.

“Today is the case management for the application for fresh evidence filed by the previous counsel (for Najib), then the amendment to the said motion for fresh evidence will follow.

“After that will be the change of solicitors (involving the new legal team) for the main appeal.

“The (apex) court has informed that the hearing date fixed from August 15 to 26 is maintained and instructions to comply are to be followed,” he said when contacted by the media.

Ashrof also stated that the hearing will be held physically at the apex court.

Previously, Najib was represented by Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah.

In a letter to the Federal Court last week, Shafee's firm was replaced by Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew and Partners, effective July 25.

Hisyam (of Messrs Hisyam Teh) will be appointed lead defence counsel, with Liew Teik Huat and Rueben Mathiaravanam (of Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners) to be co-counsels.

The change of the lawyers came after the high court here rejected United Kingdom lawyer and Queen’s Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw’s bid to be admitted before the courts for the final appeal, scheduled to be heard in the Federal Court for 10 days from August 15.

The Court of Appeal last year upheld the conviction and 12-year prison sentence as well as an RM210 million fine imposed against Najib for misappropriating RM42 million in funds from SRC, a former 1Malaysia Development Bhd subsidiary. – The Vibes, July 29, 2022