Disciplinary board clears Zaid of misconduct in Najib's appeal

Lawyer Zaid Ibrahim has divulged that the Malaysian Bar Council Disciplinary Board has exonerated him and his firm’s partners of any breach of the Legal Profession Act (LPA) or ethical wrongdoing.

Taking to X (Twitter) today, he said this was concerning former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s final appeal in the SRC International corruption case at the Federal Court in 2022.

Zaid (above), who is a former law minister, said the disciplinary board led by Justice Rohana Yusuf cleared him, as well as lawyers Liew Teck Huat, and M Rueben yesterday of any breach of the LPA or ethical misconduct as previously alleged by Bar president Karen Cheah.

“The complaint against us by the Council hinged on our decision to represent Najib at the last stage of his appeal in the SRC case in the Federal Court.

“The complaint stemmed from our decision to seek the court’s permission for an adjournment of the trial to allow the new lead counsel time to be ready for the case.

“At last, the assembly of reasonable men and women made the right decision that we were not to be faulted for doing the best for the client,” Zaid said.

It was previously reported by FMT that the advocates and solicitors’ disciplinary board issued a letter to Zaid in January last year to show cause over alleged misconduct at the last stage of Najib’s appeal in the SRC case.

At the time, Zaid said the board - an independent body formed to probe and punish lawyers for professional wrongdoing - gave them a month to explain.

The Malaysian Bar was reported to have initiated the complaint, focusing on Zaid’s firm’s decision to take on Najib’s case, as well as their inability to proceed when the court denied a request for an adjournment.

In July 2022, Najib appointed Zaid’s law firm to replace Shafee & Co as solicitors in his final SRC appeal before the Federal Court, while lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik was roped in to be lead counsel in place of Mohamed Shafee Abdullah.

On Aug 18 the same year, Najib discharged Zaid’s firm as solicitors as well as Zaid, Liew, and Rueben as co-counsel after the apex court turned down several requests for additional time to prepare for the appeal.

Then on Aug 23, the Federal Court unanimously affirmed Najib’s conviction on all seven criminal charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.

The court maintained his 12-year jail term and a fine of RM210 million or, in default, an additional five years behind bars.

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