SRC International case: Federal Court denies Najib's application to postpone hearing

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Court here has denied an application by Datuk Seri Najib Razak to postpone the hearing dates of his final appeal in the RM42mil SRC International Sdn Bhd case, which is scheduled next month.

The Pekan MP sought to push the hearing dates owing to a change of line-up in his defence lawyers.

ALSO READ: Najib appoints new lawyers for SRC case and seeks postponement

In a letter signed by Federal Court deputy registrar Wan Fatimah Zaharah Wan Yussof, the court said parties must take necessary actions and prepare for the hearing of the appeal, which would be heard for 10 days from Aug 15-19 and Aug 22-26.

"The court would like to emphasise that no postponements would be allowed," Wan Fatimah said.

On July 25, Najib had discharged Messrs Shafee & Co and took on Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners (ZIST) to represent him in his final appeal at the apex court.

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

When contacted, DPP Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said ZIST had written a formal letter dated July 26 asking for an adjournment of motion to adduce fresh evidence regarding Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (now a Court of Appeal judge), who presided over the SRC International case at the High Court as well as the main appeal.

"ZIST will also be making the same application to adjourn both matters in open court before the Federal Court on Aug 15," he said.

On Friday (July 29), a case management was conducted online and attended by Mohd Ashrof and lead prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram for the prosecution.

Also in the proceedings were Najib's new counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Liew Teck Huat and Rueben Mathiavaranam.

Najib's previous lawyers Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Rahmat Hazlan also attended for matters regarding the handing over of documents from Shafee & Co to ZIST.

The court has fixed a final case management via Zoom at 3pm on Aug 8.

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

On July 28, 2020, Justice Mohd Nazlan convicted and sentenced Najib on seven charges involving criminal breach of trust (CBT), money laundering and abuse of position, involving SRC funds, totalling RM42mil.

He was sentenced to 12 years' jail and a fine of RM210mil.

The conviction and sentence were upheld by the Court of Appeal.