Najib still wants King's Counsel for SRC case: Shafee

Najib Abdul Razak still seeks King's Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw to represent him if he is allowed a rehearing of his appeal in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.

The former prime minister's legal team led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah this afternoon confirmed that they seek the United Kingdom-based counsel's assistance.

Shafee said if the Federal Court allows Najib's review application by quashing the conviction as well as his 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine, and orders a rehearing of the SRC appeal before a different apex court panel, then the defence team requires Laidlaw's (above) expertise for fraud and corruption cases.

The lawyer said in the event that the apex court allows Najib’s review and granted a rehearing, Laidlaw’s expertise would then be valuable to the former finance minister’s defence team.

“We are pursuing the appeal (for Laidlaw to represent Najib) as he (Laidlaw) is the best fraud and corruption lawyer in the Commonwealth, hence we wish to engage him,” Shafee told a press conference outside the lobby of the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex today.

With the Kuala Lumpur High Court previously denying Laidlaw's bid to be allowed to represent Najib on July 21, the British citizen has since appealed to the Federal Court.

On July 21, Najib’s appeal against his SRC conviction was still pending before the apex court.

Najib is serving his jail time, following the Federal Court bench headed by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat on Aug 23 denying his appeal to set aside the guilty verdict as well as sentencing.

Then on Sept 6, the incumbent Pekan MP filed a review application to secure a fresh apex court bench to rehear his SRC appeal.

The Federal Court case management for Najib’s SRC review and Laidlaw’s bid is fixed on Oct 21 and Nov 8 respectively.

Earlier today, Najib was brought by Kajang Prison officials to attend his ongoing RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial before the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

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