The hearing of Najib Razak’s application to review the Federal Court’s decision upholding his conviction, 12-year jail sentence and fine for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds begins today.
The former prime minister is seeking to overturn the decision by a five-member bench of the Federal Court led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat on Aug 23 last year, or for a re-trial of his appeal.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli is chairing a five-member panel comprising Federal Court judges Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Rhodzariah Bujang and Nordin Hassan.
Meanwhile, Court of Appeal judge Abu Bakar Jais has been co-opted to be on the bench by virtue of Article 122 (2) of the Federal Constitution in the interest of justice.
Najib, 69, is represented by lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, while ad hoc prosecutor V Sithambaram is acting for the prosecution.
This is Najib’s final attempt via court proceedings to set aside his conviction.
The former Pekan MP has also filed a petition seeking a royal pardon for his conviction in the SRC International case.
Najib, through Messrs Shafee & Co, also filed a petition Jan 5 to the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
The petition was filed at the office of the High Commission of Geneva via digital submission, seeking release or retrial following the the Federal Court appeal hearing which he claimed had serious defects and was contrary to the rules of international justice.
