PETALING JAYA: Najib Razak’s lawyers have filed for a review of the Federal Court’s decision to uphold his conviction and sentence in the SRC International case.
According to a source close to the former prime minister, the motion by lawyer Shafee Abdullah was filed today.
“The motion for a review states that a miscarriage of justice has taken place and that Najib’s right to defend himself at the Federal Court has been denied,” said the source who declined to be named.
Earlier today, Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi urged Najib’s lawyers to file for a review of the apex court’s decision in light of the remarks by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas.
Puad said Thomas’ remarks in a Malaysiakini interview indicated a double standard in Najib’s case as pointed out by former law minister Zaid Ibrahim.
Previously, Zaid said Thomas had contradicted himself by first saying that the case was the “easiest to prove” but later in the same interview, the former attorney-general said the case was “complicated” due to the voluminous documents and transactions that had to be reviewed.
Zaid’s firm was appointed to handle Najib’s appeal three weeks before it was heard by the Federal Court. An application for an adjournment of three to four months to prepare and review the “voluminous appeal records” was rejected.
He also pointed out that in the interview Thomas said he was determined to get the best and brightest lawyers to prosecute najib but the former prime minister was not given the same opportunity to defend himself.
Zaid said that when Najib tried to hire Queen’s Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw, the High Court turned this bid down by stating that foreign expertise was not needed because Malaysian lawyers were capable of handling cases involving money laundering and corruption charges under local law.
On Aug 23, the Federal Court committed Najib to prison after upholding his conviction and sentence of 12 years’ jail and fine of RM210 million.
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