FORMER prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has appointed former law minister Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim to lead his new defence team in his SRC International appeal at the Federal Court.
In a letter to the Federal Court dated today (July 26) Najib’s former lawyers from Shafee & Co informed that the Pekan MP has discharged them from acting for him.
“The appellant wishes to inform that he has appointed Zaid Ibrahim Suffian TH Liew & Partners as solicitors,” the firm said.
“Please be informed that on July 25, 2022 around 5pm, our side received a letter from Najib Abdul Razak where the appellant has discharged with immediate effect Messrs Shafee & Co from acting as counsel and lawyers acting for him in the criminal appeals and related proceedings.
“Through the same letter, the appellant informed that he has appointed Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suffian TH Liew & Partners as lawyers,” Shafee & Co said.
The SRC International final appeal is scheduled to be heard before the Federal Court for 10 days from Aug 15 to 26.
In 2020, Najib was convicted on seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in relation to RM42 mil belonging to SRC International that was deposited into his bank accounts.
The court sentenced the former finance minister to 12 years in jail and a RM210 mil fine. He is out on bail pending his Federal Court hearing.
On Dec 8 last year the Court of Appeal had branded Najib’s conduct in the misappropriation of funds from SRC International – a former subsidiary company of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) – as a national embarrassment.
A panel of three judges had branded him as such before ruling that his conviction, alongside the jail sentence and fine should be upheld. – July 26, 2022
