The Malaysian Insight

FORMER prime minister Najib Razak’s decision to appoint a new legal team to represent him at the final SRC International Sdn Bhd appeal comes after the High Court dismissed his application for a Queen’s Counsel.

In a statement, representatives for Najib said he had made the decision to appoint Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suffian TH Liew & Partners as solicitors after consulting with lawyers in Singapore and India.

“The change in lawyers comes after Jonathan Laidlow QC was not admitted to appear for Najib and after he had consulted lawyers in Singapore and Indian senior advocates on the matter,” the statement said.

“Najib expresses confidence that the new team that has been assembled will bring different perspectives to his defence.

“The charge of conflict of interest is a serious one both for the judge and the litigants. The application is filed in court in that regard.

“Najib would not want to comment on the issue as the matter is now pending before the Federal Court.”

Last week, the court had dismissed Najib’s application to appoint Laidlaw to represent him at the final appeal.

Judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid ruled that Laidlaw did not satisfy the requirements for ad-hoc admission under the Legal Profession Act 1976.

Kamal added that Laidlaw did not possess special qualifications and experience that were unavailable among local lawyers.

Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and his firm will continue to represent Najib in all his other trials, the statement said.

“Najib wishes to express his support and appreciation to his entire legal team for their continuing commitment and effort in ensuring he is given a fair trial.  

“He also wishes to state that it is unfair for the media to conclude or report that Shafee and co has been ‘evicted’ or ‘ditched’.

“He joins many others in their confidence that the Malaysian legal system and legal processes will prove his innocence and provide the justice that all Malaysians deserve in law.”

It was reported today that Najib had discharged his lead counsel Shafee and appointed former law minister Zaid Ibrahim’s firm to represent him at his federal court appeal.

In a letter to the deputy registrar of the federal court today, Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suffian TH Liew & Partners is also seeking urgent case management to seek for an adjournment to the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial, which is slated to begin on August 15.

In the same letter, the firm also informed the court that senior lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik has been appointed as the lead counsel for Najib’s SRC International SDB Bhd appeal, replacing Shafee.

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

On June 7, Najib applied to add alleged new evidence and call new witnesses for his SRC case to support his claim of conflict of interest by Nazlan. – July 26, 2022.