Judge rejects application for Najib’s QC to appear in Federal Court
Advertisement
THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has rejected Queen’s Counsel (QC) Jonathan Laidlaw’s application to be allowed to represent Najib Razak in his final appeal regarding the misappropriation of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds at the Federal Court.
Justice Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid in rejecting the bid said United Kingdom-based Laidlaw did not satisfy the requirements for ad-hoc admission under the Legal Profession Act 1976.
The Malaysian Bar had objected to allowing Laidlaw to appear here, saying that there are enough local lawyers to handle the case.
Najib had sought to use Laidlaw for his appeal, citing that no advocate and solicitor in Malaysia has the same degree of accomplishments as the QC.
The Pekan MP’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the Federal Court would benefit from being able to draw upon Laidlaw’s experience in the case.
Najib’s Federal Court appeal will be heard over 10 days beginning August 15.
He was found guilty of seven charges involving the misappropriation of RM42 million belonging to SRC International by judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali on July 28, 2020.
He was sentenced to 12 years in jail and a fine of RM210 million.
The Court of Appeal, on December 8, 2021, upheld the High Court’s decision. – July 21, 2022.