The Malaysian Insight

FORMER Prime Minister Najib Razak has discharged his lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and appointed ex-law minister Zaid Ibrahim to represent him at his Federal Court appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case. 

In a notice to the court, Shafee & Co said Zaid Ibrahim Suffian TH Liew & Partners has been appointed as solicitors for Najib.

Shafee and his firm had represented Najib in the SRC International trial at the High Court and at the Court of Appeal.

The firm is still representing Najib at the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial at the High Court.

“Please take note that on July 25, 2022, at around 5pm, we received a letter from Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Hj Abd Razak (‘Appellant’) where the Appellant has discharged with immediate effect Messrs Shafee & Co from acting as counsel and solicitor in representing him in these criminal appeals and related proceedings. 

“Through the same letter, the Appellant informed that he has appointed Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suffian TH Liew & Partners as solicitors,” Shafee & Co said in its letter to the Federal Court. 

Zaid was former law minister and senator. He was previously an Umno member but was suspended in 2008, after which he joined DAP. 

He founded one of the largest firms in Malaysia, Zaid Ibrahim & Co, but quit the firm in 2008. 

He now practices under Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suffian TH Liew & Partners. 

In 2020, High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali found Najib guilty of seven criminal charges for appropriating RM42 million of SRC International funds. 

The judge sentenced him to 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine. The decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Last week, the court had dismissed his application to appoint a Queen’s Counsel to represent him at the final appeal.

Najib’s final appeal is set to take place from August 15 to August 26. – July 26, 2022.