THE Federal Court heard today that Najib Razak’s defence bid to introduce fresh evidence in the RM42 million SRC International case was based on what certain individuals allegedly told the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Ad hoc prosecutor V. Sithambaram said that the contents of the former prime minister’s affidavits was hearsay and the apex court should reject it.

“There is nothing for the court to act on. This is hearsay from the defence, and there is actually no new evidence.

“He (Najib) is relying on statements by three MACC and two Maybank officers who told the court in the SRC trial to support the application,” he said.

Sithambaram said that the affidavits showed that these alleged witnesses did not personally tell the former prime minister what was supposedly told to the MACC.

“Those witnesses’ statements are hearsay. They did not tell the appellant.

“The application is not a fresh evidence bid but camouflaged to fish for the alleged conflict of interest on the part of trial judge Nazlan,” he said.

He added that it was a desperate attempt by Najib (raising the issue) as he could have raised the objection during trial at the High Court.

“The conflict of interest could have been raised at the trial (High Court) but it was not.

“Najib in a desperate attempt is coming up with these unfounded allegations against a judge who cannot defend himself,” he said.

Earlier today, Najib’s lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik presented submissions for fresh evidence, as part of a larger bid to nullify his conviction where he was found guilty of all seven criminal charges for having received RM42 million in funds from SRC International on July 28, 2020.

Hisyam also said Najib had fulfilled the requirements under Section 93 of the Courts of Judicature Act.

The panel – which also included Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim and Federal Court judges Nallini Pathmanathan, Mary Lim, and Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah – will hear counsel say that Nazlan had the overall responsibility for the management and administration of all legal departments within the entire group. - August 15, 2022.