FMT:
Why the ‘rush’ to hear Najib’s appeal, asks Shafee
The defence counsel claims rumours that the Dewan Rakyat would be dissolved were rife at the time.
Najib Razak cannot be blamed for entertaining the perception that he would be jailed so he will no longer be a factor in the general election, his counsel Shafee Abdullah (left) said.
PUTRAJAYA: Najib Razak’s defence team today asked whether the Federal Court’s “rush” to confirm the former prime minister’s conviction and sentence in his SRC International corruption case in August was in any way linked to the looming general election that eventually took place in November.
“There was another case that was adjourned 70 times,” lawyer Shafee Abdullah claimed without identifying the case he was referring to.
“Can you blame him (Najib) for entertaining the perception that he would be thrown away (in prison) so he will no longer be an equaliser in the (last) general election?” asked Shafee.
He said that at the time the SRC case was scheduled to be heard, talk was rife about an impending dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat.
The lower house of Parliament was eventually dissolved on Oct 10 last year with polling taking place the following month.
Ad hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram took objection to Shafee’s insinuation, calling for him to stick to his written submissions and telling him not to make statements from the bar.
“As a counsel, I have to say it without fear or favour,” Shafee replied.
Earlier today, Shafee told the court that Najib’s former legal team led by lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik had sought to postpone the hearing as he had only been appointed less than a month before it was scheduled to take place.
When that application was rejected, Hisyam asked to discharge himself as he did not have sufficient time to prepare for the hearing.
The hearing continues before a panel of five judges led by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli.
Also on the panel are Justices Vernon Ong, Rhodzariah Bujang, Nordin Hassan and Abu Bakar Jais.
On Aug 23, 2022, another panel of the Federal Court led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat dismissed Najib’s appeal and ordered him to begin serving his 12-year jail sentence in Kajang prison immediately.
Najib was convicted on abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust charges over SRC funds amounting to RM42 million.
He was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM210 million.
The former prime minister filed a motion for leave to review the ruling last year on grounds that the court had breached the principles of natural justice, including his right to fair trial and to counsel.
He wants the Aug 23 decision set aside and for another Federal Court bench consisting of at least seven judges to rehear his appeal.
PUTRAJAYA: Najib Razak’s defence team today asked whether the Federal Court’s “rush” to confirm the former prime minister’s conviction and sentence in his SRC International corruption case in August was in any way linked to the looming general election that eventually took place in November.
“There was another case that was adjourned 70 times,” lawyer Shafee Abdullah claimed without identifying the case he was referring to.
“Can you blame him (Najib) for entertaining the perception that he would be thrown away (in prison) so he will no longer be an equaliser in the (last) general election?” asked Shafee.
He said that at the time the SRC case was scheduled to be heard, talk was rife about an impending dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat.
The lower house of Parliament was eventually dissolved on Oct 10 last year with polling taking place the following month.
Ad hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram took objection to Shafee’s insinuation, calling for him to stick to his written submissions and telling him not to make statements from the bar.
“As a counsel, I have to say it without fear or favour,” Shafee replied.
Earlier today, Shafee told the court that Najib’s former legal team led by lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik had sought to postpone the hearing as he had only been appointed less than a month before it was scheduled to take place.
When that application was rejected, Hisyam asked to discharge himself as he did not have sufficient time to prepare for the hearing.
The hearing continues before a panel of five judges led by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli.
Also on the panel are Justices Vernon Ong, Rhodzariah Bujang, Nordin Hassan and Abu Bakar Jais.
On Aug 23, 2022, another panel of the Federal Court led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat dismissed Najib’s appeal and ordered him to begin serving his 12-year jail sentence in Kajang prison immediately.
Najib was convicted on abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust charges over SRC funds amounting to RM42 million.
He was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM210 million.
The former prime minister filed a motion for leave to review the ruling last year on grounds that the court had breached the principles of natural justice, including his right to fair trial and to counsel.
He wants the Aug 23 decision set aside and for another Federal Court bench consisting of at least seven judges to rehear his appeal.
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