Lawyer Shafee not ‘ditched’, handling other cases, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: The change in the line-up of lawyers in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's defence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd appeal came after the failure to get Queen's Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw to appear for Najib in the final appeal.

In a brief statement, Najib said he had consulted lawyers in Singapore and the Indian Senior Advocates on the matter prior to the change.

ALSO READ: Shafee's firm discharged from Najib's SRC appeal, Zaid's firm to take over

On Tuesday (July 26), news broke that Messrs Shafee & Co was discharged from representing Najib in the final appeal at the Federal Court.

The Federal Court was informed of the matter in a letter dated July 26 from Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners (ZIST) that it was replacing Shafee & Co in representing Najib in the appeal.

ALSO READ: Hisyam Teh Poh Teik to lead Najib's final SRC appeal

ZIST also stated that senior lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik from Messrs Hisyam Teh will be leading the appeal, alongside co-counsel Liew Teck Huat and Rueben Mathiaravanam from ZIST.

Najib said he was confident that the new team would bring different perspectives to his defence.

ALSO READ: Court dismisses application by Queen's Counsel to represent Najib in SRC appeal

The Pekan MP also said that the previous law firm Shafee & Co and its lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah would continue as the solicitor and counsel in all other cases involving him before the Malaysian courts.

"It is unfair for the media to conclude or report that Shafee & Co has been 'evicted' or 'ditched'," he added, referring to reports on portals regarding the discharge of Shafee & Co.