CONVICTED former prime minister Najib Razak today applied to the Court of Appeal to delay the December 8 decision on his appeal against his conviction and sentence for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

According to a document from Messrs Shafee & Co, representing Najib, the hearing would fall within his Covid-19 quarantine period, as he is due to return from Singapore on December 5.

“Najib asks for the decision date to be fixed for the following week, December 13-17, or any other dates the court thinks suitable,” his lawyers said.

According to his legal team, Najib will be in quarantine for seven days until December 12, so will only be available from December 13.

The document also stated that the prosecution team had been informed of the matter and it had not raised any objections for the rescheduling.

The document added that the trial for the money laundering case involving Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, at the high court was also set to resume on December 8.

Meanwhile, Najib also has the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund trial at the same court.

According to the document, the murder trial involving Samirah Muzzaffar, who is represented by Shafee, will resume at Shah Alam High Court for four days from December 20.

Yesterday, the office of the chief registrar of the Federal Court said Najib’s appeal hearing had been set for December 8.

Najib, 68, is appealing a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision on July 28, 2020, sentencing him to 12 years in prison and a fine of RM210 million after finding him guilty of seven charges involving criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position, involving SRC International funds totalling RM42 million. – November 24, 2021.