Court Of Appeal Denies Najib S Bid To Postpone Dec 8 Src Appeal Verdict

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The Court of Appeal maintained Dec 8 for its decision concerning Najib Abdul Razak's appeal to quash his conviction and sentencing in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.
In a letter to the former prime minister's lawyers from Shafee & Co, the Court of Appeal informed that the legal team's application to postpone the verdict date was not allowed.
"It is informed that your application to postpone the decision date is not allowed.
"Therefore, please ensure that all parties attend the Court of Appeal at Putrajaya on the fixed date," read the letter filed in the judiciary's e-filing system.
When contacted today, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul also confirmed the Court of Appeal's dismissal of the postponement application.
Najib's counsel Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, also confirmed that the defence team has just received the letter today.
Yesterday, the Court of Appeal fixed Dec 8 for the decision on Najib's appeal to overturn his guilty verdict as well as a sentence of 12 years imprisonment and RM210 million fine.
Najib's legal team then applied for the decision date to be postponed to between Dec 13 to 17, citing the reason that the former prime minister would still be under home quarantine upon returning from a trip to Singapore.
The Court of Appeal previously allowed the temporary release of Najib's international passport to visit and support his expecting daughter Nooryana Najwa in Singapore.
The 68-year-old Pekan MP is appealing against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision on July 28 last year.
Trial judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali had found the accused guilty on seven charges encompassing criminal breach of trust (CBT), money laundering and abuse of power involving RM42 million of funds from SRC International.
Previously a subsidiary of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, SRC International later became wholly owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc). Najib also used to be finance minister and advisor emeritus of SRC International.
Nazlan had sentenced Najib to 12 years in jail and a fine of RM210 million, with an additional five-year jail term if the fine is not paid.
However, the trial court allowed the defence team's application for a stay of execution of the sentence, pending disposal of the appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Najib is currently out on bail of RM2 million with two sureties.
The hearing of the appeal, before a three-person Court of Appeal bench chaired by Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, lasted for 15 days and wrapped up on May 18 this year. The other two panel members are Has Zanah Mehat and Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera. - Mkini

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