PUTRAJAYA: The sole dissenting judge in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's review application today held that it was unfair for the former prime minister to pay the price for the mistakes done by his counsel in the SRC International Sdn Bhd appeal hearing.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli, who chaired a five-member bench, said Najib's counsel (Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik) had been denied the opportunity to submit as said by the latter that he was not prepared to do so after taking the case at the last minute.
"The counsel did not submit after informing the panel of judges that he was unprepared to do so. This led to only one party submitting before the earlier panel, which was the deputy public prosecutor Datuk V.Sithambaram.
"The applicant (Najib) was not heard at all. The applicant is at a great and substantial injustice. He was in a disadvantaged state, as he was not represented during the appeal. It was unfair that the applicant was paying the highest price for the mistakes done by his counsel.
"The applicant's only interest is to see his lawyer act for him in his best interest, nothing more and nothing less," the judge said when allowing Najib's application to review the decision of the previous panel of the Federal Court which upheld his conviction and 12 years jail sentence and fine for misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.
In the 4-1 majority judgment, the four judges who dismissed the former prime minister's application were Federal Court judges Datuk Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang and Datuk Nordin Hassan and Court of Appeal judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais.
In his decision, Justice Abdul Rahman said that the previous bench should have let the applicant (Najib) address the bench first before the prosecution made its submissions.
"This did not happen, the prosecution was allowed to submit for two full days...this was surreal," said the judge, adding that the conviction against the accused should be quashed as there was no legal representation.
Justice Abdul Rahman opined that an adjournment should have been granted, not to scuttle the case, but to allow for the former premier to find a new counsel.
"The applicant (Najib) has the right to effective counsel. In the present case, the earlier panel had denied the applicant the right to have effective counsel. The counsel was shackled.
"The previous panel had said that it had given Najib's counsel four months to prepare. It was not true. The four months were for Messrs Shafee and Co (Najib's previous counsel). They were not for his new counsel Hisyam. Hence, the application for review for the adjournment must be granted," said Justice Abdul Rahman.
Najib, 69, who was in the dock, was seen nodding his head in agreement with the judge.
On July 28, 2020, the then High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who is now a Court of Appeal judge, sentenced Najib to 10 years' jail on each of the three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and each of the three counts of money laundering, and 12 years' jail and RM210 million fine, in default five years' jail, in the case of abusing his position.
On Dec 8, 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court's decision and rejected Najib's appeal to set aside his conviction and jail sentence, as well as the fine.
On Aug 23, 2022, a five-member bench of the Federal Court led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat dismissed the appeal by the former Pekan MP to overturn the conviction and sentence. Najib began his 12-year jail term in Kajang prison on the same day.
Najib then filed the review application to quash the earlier Federal Court's verdict. Besides that, he had also filed for a royal pardon in September last year.
On Jan 5, this year, he also filed a petition before the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) to ask for a release from prison or retrial of his SRC International case following an appeal hearing at the Federal Court which he claimed had serious defects and was contrary to the rules of international justice.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Mar 31 2023
![Great injustice to Najib as he was unrepresented during appeal, says dissenting judge Great injustice to Najib as he was unrepresented during appeal, says dissenting judge](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/71664361942_NajibTunRazak.jpg)
Justice Abdul Rahman said Datuk Seri Najib Razak's counsel (Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik) had been denied the opportunity to submit as said by the latter that he was not prepared to do so after taking the case at the last minute. - BERNAMA/Filepic
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
AWANI Ringkas: Pemain bola bawa kerambit juga suspek baling bom petrol
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723702959_TBMahkamahSesyen.jpg)
Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China
Sepasang suami isteri dan empat individu didakwa menculik seorang lelaki warga China untuk mendapatkan wang tebusan berbentuk mata wang kripto.
![Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61722341186_BursaMalaysia.jpg)
Bursa gantung jualan singkat SP Setia
Bursa Malaysia menggantung jualan singkat SP Setia Bhd bagi baki tempoh hari ini selepas penyusutan harga yang ketara.
![MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723697210_TBMiti.jpg)
MITI mula siasat duti antilambakan import gulungan rata besi disadur timah
MITI menjelaskan tindakan itu diputuskan selepas menerima petisyen daripada pengeluar tempatan, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Bhd.
!['Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak 'Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723700126_NidzaAfhammeningg.jpg)
'Nidza Afham pernah cakap mahu jadi terkenal, tapi bukan macam ini' - Kakak
Kakak kepada Allahyarham penyanyi Nidza Afham iaitu Irfahanie memaklumkan adiknya itu pernah berhasrat untuk menjadi penyanyi terkenal.
![Punca kematian Muhammad Nidza Afham diketahui selepas bedah siasat - KPN Punca kematian Muhammad Nidza Afham diketahui selepas bedah siasat - KPN](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701968_TBNidzaAfham.jpg)
Punca kematian Muhammad Nidza Afham diketahui selepas bedah siasat - KPN
Polis belum dapat mengklasifikasikan kematian Muhammad Nidza Afham Mokhtar yang mayatnya ditemukan di Sungai Klang petang semalam.
![Abang ipar Nidza Afham mohon netizen henti buat spekulasi Abang ipar Nidza Afham mohon netizen henti buat spekulasi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723699828_NidzaAfhammeningg.jpg)
Abang ipar Nidza Afham mohon netizen henti buat spekulasi
Abang ipar kepada Allahyarham penyanyi Nidza Afham, Effie Amron memohon semua pihak tidak membuat sebarang spekulasi mengenai berita kematian adik iparnya itu.
![Najib bantah permohonan Majlis Peguam cabar keputusan Lembaga Pengampunan Najib bantah permohonan Majlis Peguam cabar keputusan Lembaga Pengampunan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61718808324_TBNajib.jpg)
Najib bantah permohonan Majlis Peguam cabar keputusan Lembaga Pengampunan
Najib Razak memfailkan bantahan awal terhadap tindakan Majlis Peguam mencabar keputusan Lembaga Pengampunan mengurangkan hukuman penjara dan denda.
![Belum ada keputusan mengenai representasi Najib untuk gugurkan pertuduhan Belum ada keputusan mengenai representasi Najib untuk gugurkan pertuduhan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81722410912_TBNajib.jpg)
Belum ada keputusan mengenai representasi Najib untuk gugurkan pertuduhan
Pejabat Peguam Negara belum memutuskan mengenai representasi Najib bagi menggugurkan tiga pertuduhan tambahan pengubahan wang haram membabitkan RM27 juta dana SRC International.
![Mahkamah tolak permohonan Najib, anak lelaki tangguh prosiding bankrap Mahkamah tolak permohonan Najib, anak lelaki tangguh prosiding bankrap](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/61692790501_NajibNazifuddin.jpg)
Mahkamah tolak permohonan Najib, anak lelaki tangguh prosiding bankrap
Mahkamah Tinggi menolak permohonan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan anaknya Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin untuk menangguhkan prosiding kebankrapan terhadap mereka.
![Rayuan Najib tangguh prosiding kebankrapan ditolak Rayuan Najib tangguh prosiding kebankrapan ditolak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/81716969412_Najib.jpg)
Rayuan Najib tangguh prosiding kebankrapan ditolak
Mahkamah Tinggi KL menolak permohonan Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan anaknya, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin untuk menangguh prosiding kebankrapan tunggakan cukai lebih RM1.7 bilion dan RM37.6 juta kepada LHDN.
![Mahkamah tolak permohonan DNAA Najib, Mohd Irwan Mahkamah tolak permohonan DNAA Najib, Mohd Irwan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/81680501625_NajibIrwan.jpg)
Mahkamah tolak permohonan DNAA Najib, Mohd Irwan
Mahkamah Tinggi menolak permohonan Najib dan Mohd Irwan Serigar supaya dilepas tanpa dibebaskan (DNAA) dari tuduhan pecah amanah RM6.6 bilion.
![Rosmah nafi barang kemas, beg tangan, aksesori mewah dibeli hasil aktiviti haram Rosmah nafi barang kemas, beg tangan, aksesori mewah dibeli hasil aktiviti haram](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716888562_RosmahMansor.jpg)
Rosmah nafi barang kemas, beg tangan, aksesori mewah dibeli hasil aktiviti haram
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor menegaskan bahawa barang kemas, beg tangan dan barangan mewah lain yang berada dalam milikannya bukan dibeli dengan wang hasil aktiviti haram.
![Noh Omar sah sertai Bersatu berkuat kuasa serta-merta Noh Omar sah sertai Bersatu berkuat kuasa serta-merta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/51687059960_TanSriNohOmar.jpg)
Noh Omar sah sertai Bersatu berkuat kuasa serta-merta
Bekas Pengerusi UMNO Selangor, Tan Sri Noh Omar sah menyertai Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) berkuat kuasa serta-merta.
![Najib gagal dalam permohonan cabar kewujudan titah adendum jalani tahanan di rumah Najib gagal dalam permohonan cabar kewujudan titah adendum jalani tahanan di rumah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61718808324_TBNajib.jpg)
Najib gagal dalam permohonan cabar kewujudan titah adendum jalani tahanan di rumah
Mahkamah Tinggi KL tolak permohonan Najib untuk dapatkan kebenaran mulakan semakan kehakiman bagi mencabar kewujudan Titah Adendum.
![Pembelaan Najib dibenar sertai semakan kebenaran keputusan Lembaga Pengampunan Pembelaan Najib dibenar sertai semakan kebenaran keputusan Lembaga Pengampunan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51719902869_TBNajibjpg.jpg)
Pembelaan Najib dibenar sertai semakan kebenaran keputusan Lembaga Pengampunan
Najib dibenarkan untuk menyertai prosiding permohonan Badan Peguam Malaysia, bagi mendapatkan kebenaran memulakan semakan kehakiman, di Mahkamah Tinggi di sini, pada Selasa.
![Saman sivil SRC: Ismee sambung beri keterangan 29 Julai Saman sivil SRC: Ismee sambung beri keterangan 29 Julai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-12/41639648016_IsmeeIsmail.jpg)
Saman sivil SRC: Ismee sambung beri keterangan 29 Julai
Perbicaraan kes saman sivil dikemuka SRC International terhadap Datuk Seri Najib Razak di Mahkamah Tinggi akan bersambung pada 29 Julai.