Malaysian court hears last attempt to overturn graft conviction

PUTRAJAYA: The hearing for former prime minister Najib Razak's final appeal to overturn his graft conviction was kicked off on Thursday August 18 at Malaysia s Federal Court in Malaysia, but his lead counsel has applied to be discharged.

According to the Edge, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told the five-member bench that he is unable to act for Najib's case.

My apology is from the bottom of my heart. I am unable to act for this case, but I was hoping that the court would grant discretion in my favour because of the scope and depth of the appeal, he was quoted as saying.

He said that he hoped that the judges would review their decision to reject the postponement of the hearing, and that if the judges were not inclined to adjourn the case, he would ask to be discharged.

The Federal Court then stood down to decide on Mr Teh's application, Malaysiakini reported.

The charge against Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, involved the transfer of RM 42 million US $9.4 million from SRC International, a former Malaysia Development Bhd 1 MDB into his personal bank accounts in 2014 and 2015.

He was found guilty of three counts of corruption, three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of power by the High Court in July 2020 and was sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM 210 million.

The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 8, 2021. On April 25th, Najib filed a petition of appeal to the Federal Court.

The Federal Court had set aside nine days - Aug 15 to Aug 19 and Aug 23 to Aug 26 - for his appeal. This is Najib's final attempt to overturn the guilty conviction.