Defence mulls 2 SRC International appeals at one go

PUTRAJAYA: The defence in Najib Razak’s SRC International case said they are contemplating to have his two appeals heard together before the Federal Court.

One appeal is against Najib’s conviction and sentence on seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering over RM42 million found in his bank account.

The other is to adduce fresh evidence in the case.

On Dec 8, the Court of Appeal dismissed Najib’s appeal against his conviction and sentence meted out by the High Court in July 2020.

Trial judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali had sentenced him to 12 years’ jail and fined him RM210 million.

However, Najib obtained a stay of execution and was released on bail pending a decision from the Federal Court.

Several days before the Court of Appeal was scheduled to deliver its decision, Najib made an 11th hour application to adduce fresh evidence in the case.

He sought an order so his lawyers could record evidence from Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki, MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussein and other witnesses on grounds that some US$15.4 million linked to companies controlled by Zeti Akhtar Aziz’s family was repatriated to Malaysia.

The court turned down his attempt to include fresh evidence and proceeded to deliver its decision on the conviction and sentence.

Defence lawyers had said then that they would appeal against both decisions.

During mention before the Federal Court today, it heard that appeal records for the abuse of power, CBT and money laundering charges were ready.

However, the appeal records for the fresh evidence bid were not.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said the defence indicated to the court that it wanted more time to read the appeal records for the power abuse, CBT and money laundering charges before filing their grounds of appeal.

The court fixed Jan 24 for next mention, pending any further applications from the defence. — Free Malaysia Today