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Najib Drops Zaid Ibrahim’s Team For SRC Final Plea, Teams Up With Hisyam Teh Instead

Najib Drops Zaid Ibrahim’s Team For SRC Final Plea, Teams Up With Hisyam Teh Instead

In another twist and turn of events, solicitors from Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners had been dropped by former premier Najib Razak in his final bid to clear his name with regards to the SRC International Sdn Bhd scandal.

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Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had dismissed solicitors from Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners (ZIST), in his final bid to overturn his conviction for misappropriating funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd.

The Federal Court was informed of the decision early today at the start of the hearing today.

“The solicitors have been discharged by the appellant,” Najib’s lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told the court.

According to The Vibes, Najib is currently being represented by Hisyam and two other lawyers, Low Wei Loke and Kee Wei Lon as co-counsels.

Hisyam was appointed as Najib’s lead counsel on 26 July after the latter replaced his long-time lawyer Muhammad Shafee from the law firm Shafee & Co with former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s firm, Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners.

The experienced lawyer had repeatedly sought an extension from the court to prepare Najib’s case, but a five-panel judge led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat rejected his applications.

He even sought to recuse himself from representing the former premier yesterday but this application was denied by the Federal Court.

Today’s hearing continues with lead prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram making his submissions.

In a statement to the press, Najib said that he had appointed Zaid’s firm to argue his case after the former law minister said that he would be able to bring legal experts from India through his Singaporean partner Niru Pillai.

“I was then introduced to two senior counsels from India, who initially impressed me with their ideas. Ultimately, they were to do the back-end work while Datuk Zaid’s firm facilitated the court process. 

“Datuk Zaid and team came with a condition that their engagement must include his firm being placed as a solicitor on record and a new local counsel come onboard,” the statement reads.

Najib had been found guilty of one count of abuse of power, three counts of money laundering and three counts of criminal breach of trust linked to the SRC scandal by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in July 2020.

Following the verdict, he was imposed with 12 years of jail time and a fine of RM210 million.

His conviction was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal on 8 December last year.

READ MORE: Najib To Apex Court: “It’s My Life & Liberty That Is At Stake Here”


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