PUTRAJAYA – The Federal Court unanimously dismissed Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application to adduce fresh evidence in his final appeal for the SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC) RM42 million misappropriation trial.
The verdict was read out by Chief Justice, Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat who chaired the five-member panel, maintaining the decision of the Court of Appeal on the application of the former Prime Minister.
Tengku Maimun, said that there was not appealable error by the Court of Appeal when it dismissed the application earlier.
“We unanimously found that the Court of Appeal made the right judgement, there was no appealable error,” she said this evening.
Besides Tengku Maimun, the other judges preceding on the bench were the President of Court of Appeal Tan Sri Rohana Yusuf; Chief Judge of Malaya, Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed; Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Federal Court Judge, Datuk Seri Mohd. Zawawi Salleh.
Tengku Maimun added, the court has given sufficient time for Najib’s defence team to present its argument to the Court of Appeal earlier.
“The rights of the appellant was not prejudiced on the contrary, it has used its discretion to hear the request. With this, the court dismiss the application,” she said.
In November 2021, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed that the US$15.4 million 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) assets recovered after the Government of Singapore returned them to the Malaysian government was related to Cutting-Edge Industries Ltd (CEIL) owned by Datuk Dr Tawfiq Ayman, the husband of former Governor of Bank Negara, Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz.
Therefore, in his application, Najib requested to adduce fresh evidence for his SRC International appeal case which he was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years in prison and RM210 in fine.
Najib, who is also the Member of Parliament of Pekan would like to include the involvement of Zeti, who allegedly abetted Jho Low or Low Taek Jho and facilitated the business dealings of the fugitive businessman to misappropriate 1MDB and its subsidiary, SRC International’s funds.
However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the request of Najib as it found that he failed to fulfil the requirements under Section 61 Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
Thus, the Federal Court maintained the conviction and sentence on Najib for misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International after dismissing his appeal on the verdict of the High Court on 28 July 2020.
On 7 December 2021, the three-member panel of the Court of Appeal rejected the application as the court found that there was no extraordinary condition which could enable fresh testimony to be accepted. -MalaysiaGazette
Read More:
Judge Mohd Nazlan allegedly has conflict of interest on SRC International case?
Najib to apply for Queen’s counsel from UK for SRC appeal
National embarrassment? That’s more suitable for the Forex scandal – Najib
Do not use 1MDB debt as excuse to bad national financial situation – Najib
COURT OF APPEAL MAINTAINS CONVICTION ON NAJIB
