Zaid’s firm denies it will withdraw if Najib’s SRC appeal proceeds
Najib Abdul Razak’s new legal team will not discharge themselves from acting for the former premier in the event that the apex court decides to proceed with his appeal hearing in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case next week.
Lawyer Zaid Ibrahim (above) today denied media reports alleging the firm had conveyed that it will withdraw from the case under such conditions during case management on Wednesday.
The case management was over Najib’s bid to...
Najib Abdul Razak’s new legal team will not discharge themselves from acting for the former premier in the event that the apex court decides to proceed with his appeal hearing in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case next week.
Lawyer Zaid Ibrahim (above) today denied media reports alleging the firm had conveyed that it will withdraw from the case under such conditions during case management on Wednesday.
The case management was over Najib’s bid to adduce fresh evidence to nullify his conviction on seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust (CBT), and money laundering involving RM42 million from SRC.
“I am not sure who the source of the media reports is. In any event, the reports are neither correct nor accurate.
“My firm, Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners, did not make any statement during the case management hearing in chambers that the firm will be discharging itself as solicitors. We do not abandon our clients.
“Any media report stating the contrary is mischievous and regrettable,” he said in a statement today.
‘Najib has legitimate grievances’
Zaid said his firm had taken up the case because Najib had legitimate grievances with regard to his conviction.
He added that the firm was prepared to proceed with the motion for retrial on Monday and will continue representing Najib for as long as it has the Pekan MP’s confidence.
Next Monday, the Federal Court is set to first hear the fresh evidence bid, followed by the main SRC appeal which also targeted Najib’s 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine.
The court had previously rejected a bid by Najib’s new legal team to postpone the appeal hearing.
It was reported that during the case management conducted online, the court had informed the legal teams for both Najib and the prosecution that in the event that it dismisses the fresh evidence bid on Monday, then it would proceed to hear the main SRC appeal.
Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners had allegedly indicated to the court that they were not ready to proceed with the main appeal as it involved major issues and required more time for preparation.
It was reported that the lawyers also informed the court that if it still insists to proceed with the main appeal, then they would have no choice but to discharge from representing Najib.
The court had also removed one day (Aug 22) from the initially set 10 days of the main appeal’s hearing. As a result, the hearing will now run from Aug 15 to 19, followed by Aug 23 to 26.
In the event the new legal team is discharged from acting for Najib, the apex court has the discretion to proceed with the appeal hearing or allow further postponement for the appellant to get new legal representation.
On Dec 8 last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Najib’s appeal to overturn the 2020 ruling by Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who was then a judge of the High Court in Kuala Lumpur, who found Najib guilty and imposed the sentences. Nazlan has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal.
Previously a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC later became fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc). 1MDB is also fully owned by MOF Inc.
Najib also used to be SRC’s adviser emeritus and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.
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