Najib, counsel ‘shocked, disappointed’ after bid to adduce fresh evidence turned down
Najib Razak (left) with lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik (centre) and co-counsel Zaid Ibrahim speaking to the media after court proceedings today.
PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has expressed his disappointment with the Federal Court’s decision to reject his bid to adduce fresh evidence relating to trial judge Nazlan Ghazali’s past employment with a bank.
“I am shocked and bitterly disappointed with the decision of the judges not to allow me to adduce additional evidence,” he said after court proceedings here today.
Lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik was similarly disheartened by the outcome of the case.
We had presented a strong case both in law and on the facts, he said.
“Unfortunately, the court did not appreciate our arguments,” he said.
Hisyam said the former prime minister’s legal team will have to decide on the next course of action before court proceedings resume on Thursday.
“I have to give the matter serious thought and consideration because this is the final lap of the main appeal,” he said. “I am lost for words.”
“I am shocked that our request for adjournment was not considered despite putting up strong grounds,” he added.
Najib and Hisyam were reacting to the apex court’s refusal to allow Najib’s new legal team an additional three to four months to prepare their case.
Hisyam and several lawyers took over Najib’s SRC International appeal from former lawyer Shafee Abdullah last month.
Co-counsel Zaid Ibrahim told reporters that “(seeking) justice was a long road”.
“Sometimes you get it here, or you can get it elsewhere,” he said.
Earlier today, a five-member panel of the apex court chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat dismissed Najib’s application to adduce additional evidence in his final appeal to prove Nazlan was under a serious conflict of interest when presiding over the SRC trial two years ago.
She said the application to adduce additional evidence did not fulfil the requirements of the law.
PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has expressed his disappointment with the Federal Court’s decision to reject his bid to adduce fresh evidence relating to trial judge Nazlan Ghazali’s past employment with a bank.
“I am shocked and bitterly disappointed with the decision of the judges not to allow me to adduce additional evidence,” he said after court proceedings here today.
Lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik was similarly disheartened by the outcome of the case.
We had presented a strong case both in law and on the facts, he said.
“Unfortunately, the court did not appreciate our arguments,” he said.
Hisyam said the former prime minister’s legal team will have to decide on the next course of action before court proceedings resume on Thursday.
“I have to give the matter serious thought and consideration because this is the final lap of the main appeal,” he said. “I am lost for words.”
“I am shocked that our request for adjournment was not considered despite putting up strong grounds,” he added.
Najib and Hisyam were reacting to the apex court’s refusal to allow Najib’s new legal team an additional three to four months to prepare their case.
Hisyam and several lawyers took over Najib’s SRC International appeal from former lawyer Shafee Abdullah last month.
Co-counsel Zaid Ibrahim told reporters that “(seeking) justice was a long road”.
“Sometimes you get it here, or you can get it elsewhere,” he said.
Earlier today, a five-member panel of the apex court chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat dismissed Najib’s application to adduce additional evidence in his final appeal to prove Nazlan was under a serious conflict of interest when presiding over the SRC trial two years ago.
She said the application to adduce additional evidence did not fulfil the requirements of the law.
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