Najib's final SRC appeal: Defence team arrives at Palace of Justice in Putrajaya

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's new defence team, led by senior lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, arrived at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya at about 8.45am on Monday (Aug 15).

After a four-year court battle, the former prime minister and his new lawyers will be up against their greatest challenge when the SRC International Sdn Bhd case enters its final stage on Monday.

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This is Najib’s last avenue to appeal his conviction and sentence after he was found guilty by the High Court on July 28, 2020.

He had been slapped with seven charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), money laundering and abuse of position involving RM42mil of SRC funds.

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Najib has filed 94 grounds on why the Court of Appeal had erred in its decision to uphold the High Court’s conviction and sentence.

It is believed that Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat herself will be heading the panel as she had previously headed a five-man appeal in an interlocutory application in the appeal.

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It is understood that during a case management on Aug 10, the first order of business fixed for the day will be Najib’s application to amend a motion he filed to adduce fresh evidence in the case.

This will be followed by the hearing on the motion itself.

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“If the motion is dismissed, the court will proceed with the main appeal proper,” said a source.

After the conclusion of the arguments for the motion for fresh evidence, Najib’s team will again make an oral application before the court to adjourn the main appeal.

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Their application via a letter to the court to adjourn the main appeal was rejected last month.

However, if it is rejected again, the parties will have no choice but to go ahead with the appeal.