Appellate court verdict has no bearing on Najib’s other cases, Shafee says

Ragananthini Vethasalam Ragananthini Vethasalam Updated 2 years ago · Published on 8 Dec 2021 4:10PM · 3 Comments

Muhammad Shafee Abdullah says elements of one particular trial cannot be brought to any other trials as they are not relevant. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 8, 2021.

THE Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold Najib Razak’s conviction and sentence in the latter’s SRC International Sdn Bhd case will have no bearing on his other trials, said Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

The lawyer said the decision today is irrelevant to other trials.

“In fact, we cannot even bring the elements or matters of this conviction to any other trial because they are not relevant. So, it does not have any bearing,” he told reporters during a press conference today.

He said he hopes that the judges presiding over the other cases will maintain their impartiality and independence.

The former prime minister is also facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering linked to RM2.28 billion of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.

Shafee criticised the judgment today, saying that the court did not consider the new evidence involving ex-Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz and ex-SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, who is still at large.

He was referring to the RM64.4 million, which is part of the RM20.5 billion 1MDB-related assets and funds, recovered by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission from Cutting Edge Industries Ltd, a firm linked to Zeti’s husband.

However, he said he is “extremely confident” that the decision by the appellate court will be overturned by the Federal Court.

“I have vigorously attacked the judgment of the High Court, and I have said this in the Court of Appeal.

“I told the Court of Appeal that the High Court judgment is incompetent as there are many areas where we thought the learned judge made mistakes of law and mistakes of facts.

“I was extremely confident then and I am extremely confident now (in our chances).”

Shafee said there are many cases where decisions of the High Court, which have been upheld by the Court of Appeal, are eventually thrown out by the Federal Court.

“So, I am not troubled by the concurrent convictions,” he said, adding that his confidence is unshaken.

Najib’s lawyers have filed an appeal and a motion for a stay of execution to the apex court. – December 8, 2021.

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Comments

  • .are you suggesting or implying the judges were not impartial or acted in independence?

    Posted 2 years ago by Bartok D · Reply

  • Once a thief, always a thief.

    Posted 2 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Are you simply arrogant or being an Indian Muslim hoodwinked umno ministers you are someone smart and take millions from their ill gotten money? I remember you laughed off the court case saying its an easy win. Then you tried your darnest to rid the prosecution because he was smarter. Now all this drama.

    Posted 2 years ago by Alphonz Jayaraman · Reply