Najib only going through due process in new evidence play: lawyers

[superadmin]

KUALA LUMPUR – The act of filing several appeals in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s bid to overturn his conviction in the RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case has caught much attention this week. 

While it may seem like a possible attempt to buy more time to avoid facing the music, criminal lawyers observing the case have asserted that the former prime minister is not wasting judicial time as he is only going through the due process of law.

However, criminologist Shahul Hamid is of the view that he is playing for time by submitting an appeal in the Federal Court to adduce fresh evidence in his SRC International case, which has since been dismissed by a five-man panel.

 “He is trying to buy time. The evidence in the SRC case is complete and is sufficient to prove that he is guilty,” Shahul opined. 

 A panel of five judges, led by chief justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, delivered the unanimous decision during the hearing in the Palace of Justice yesterday afternoon.

The 68-year-old politician made the application following the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) press release last November 19 on the recovery of fund assets of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) inter alia from Singapore, whereby the Singapore government had repatriated US$15.4 million (RM64.65 million) to Malaysia relating to an account of Cutting-Edge Industries Ltd owner Datuk Tawfiq Ayman.

Tawfiq is the husband of former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

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