[UPDATED] Shafee back to help with Najib’s bid to recuse chief justice: Hisyam

PUTRAJAYA – Datuk Seri Najib Razak's previous lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah has returned to the defence team to assist its bid to recuse the chief justice from hearing the former prime minister’s SRC International Sdn Bhd's final appeal hearing, the Federal Court heard today.

Najib’s lead counsel, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, informed the court that Shafee will be assisting him in the recusal bid.

Hisyam then asked for the court to adjourn for another 10 minutes to allow Shafee to be present.

This, however, was rejected by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat who had ordered Hisyam to proceed with his submission on recusing her.

The court had just resumed after a break for the apex panel to deliberate on the defence's application to recuse the chief justice.

When Shafee arrived, he told the court he would only be helping the defence in arguing for Tengku Maimun’s recusal.

He asked for an adjournment until tomorrow, saying he needed to prepare his arguments on why the chief justice should not hear Najib’s final appeal.

He also said he had a new application on the recusal to file, to which Tengku Maimum pointed out that Hisyam had already filed a recusal application.

“If we proceed today (and hear Najib’s application) and conclude today, no one needs to be here (in court) tomorrow,” the chief justice said, also telling Shafee he would not be required in court tomorrow to file a fresh application.

She rejected the adjournment request, instructing Hisyam to proceed with his own arguments on her recusal. Shafee, who said he had another appointment to attend at 2pm, left the courtroom.

When Shafee joined Hisyam earlier, he explained to the bench that he was only returning to help the defence with the recusal bid and not the appeal hearing because he did not agree with the preceding solicitors.

He denied the switching of lawyers was meant to be a delay tactic, saying he had an “acrimonious relationship” with the solicitors and did not like the way they had handled the request for the hearing’s adjournment.

“There is no conspiracy,” said Shafee.

Tengku Maimun interjected, telling Shafee it was unnecessary for the court to hear private matters relating to Najib’s representation.

Prior to the start of the final appeal hearing, Najib had changed lawyers, discharging Shafee and his law firm Shafee & Co, and replacing them with Hisyam and solicitors from Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners, since July 25.

Liew Teik Huat and Rueben Mathiavaranam from Zaid’s firm were also reported to be co-counsels.

However, on August 19, Hisyam informed the court that Najib had discharged his solicitors from Zaid’s law firm. – The Vibes, August 23, 2022