Was Najib denied a chance to present his SRC appeal arguments?

Question

Accepted Answer

Najib Was Not Denied the Opportunity to Present Arguments in His SRC Appeal

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not denied the opportunity to present his arguments during his final appeal at the Federal Court concerning the SRC International Sdn Bhd case. Instead, Najib himself, through his counsel, made a deliberate choice not to submit arguments on the merits of the case, despite being afforded multiple opportunities by the court. This assertion is made by eight former presidents of the Malaysian Bar, who stated that the narrative suggesting a lack of due process is false.
Najib Did Not Deny Funds Entered His Accounts

The former Malaysian Bar presidents highlighted that Najib did not deny that RM42 million had entered his personal bank accounts. While Najib had claimed these funds constituted donations, all three tiers of the Malaysian courts—the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Federal Court—dismissed this explanation as untenable. The Federal Court concurred with the lower courts that this conclusion was reasonable based on the evidence presented.
Federal Court Provided Ample Opportunities for Submissions

Contrary to claims of a denied opportunity, the Federal Court explicitly gave Najib's legal counsel every chance to make submissions on the merits of the appeal. The counsel repeatedly declined these opportunities, indicating a deliberate decision not to present their arguments. This refusal to submit, despite repeated invitations from the bench, directly contradicts any suggestion that due process was not followed.
Legal Team Chose Not to Submit on the Merits

The eight former Bar presidents clarified that the appellant, through his counsel, made a considered choice not to engage in submissions on the substantive aspects of the appeal. This action was taken despite various opportunities being afforded to them. Therefore, the claim that Najib was not accorded due process is factually incorrect, as the refusal to submit originated from his legal representation.
Support for Judicial Independence Affirmed

The statement from the former Malaysian Bar presidents also expressed their full support for the current Malaysian Bar president in her defence of judicial independence. They commended the judges for their courage in delivering justice and standing firm against attacks, emphasizing their determination to uphold the rule of law without fear or favour amidst unprecedented challenges to the judiciary.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Was Najib denied a chance to present his SRC appeal arguments?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends