Chronology of Najib's SRC case

KUALA LUMPUR: The Court of Appeal today upheld the conviction and 12 years' jail term and RM210 million fine on Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

Justice Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, who was leading a three-member bench which included Justices Datuk Has Zanah Mehat and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, dismissed the former prime minister's appeal to set aside the conviction and sentence imposed by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 28, 2020.

Following is a chronology of Najib's SRC case.

July 4, 2018 - Najib is charged for the first time in the Sessions Court here with three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and one charge of abusing his position over SRC International's funds totalling RM42 million. The case was later transferred to the High Court.

Aug 8, 2018 - Najib is charged at the High Court with three counts of money laundering involving the same money (RM42 million of SRC's funds) in proceeds from unlawful activities.

April 3, 2019 - Najib's trial begins after High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali dismissed the former premier's application to declare the seven charges against him defective.

Aug 27, 2019 - The prosecution closes its case after 58 days of trial involving 57 witnesses.

Nov 11, 2019 - The High Court orders Najib to enter his defence on all seven charges after finding elements of abusing position, dishonesty and money laundering by the accused have been proven by the prosecution.

Dec 3, 2019 - Najib takes the witness stand at the High Court as the first defence witness to answer charges against him.

March 11, 2020 - After 33 days of hearing and calling 19 witnesses, the defence closes its case.

July 28, 2020 - The High Court sentences Najib to 12 years in jail and a fine of RM210 million after finding him guilty on all seven charges.

Oct 19, 2020 - Najib files a petition of appeal which contains 307 grounds of appeal on why he should be freed of the charges.

April 5, 2021 - Najib's SRC appeal hearing starts at the Court of Appeal.

May 18, 2021 - Najib's SRC appeal hearing is completed after the court heard arguments from both parties for 15 days and the court reserved its decision to a date yet to be fixed.

Nov 23, 2021 - The Court of Appeal sets Dec 8 for a decision on Najib's appeal.

Nov 24, 2021 - Najib applies to the Appeals Court to vacate the decision date due to the requirement to undergo self-quarantine for seven days until Dec 12 and could only attend court or public gatherings from Dec 13. However, it is dismissed on the same day.

Dec 2, 2021 - Najib files a last-minute application at the Appellate Court to allow new evidence including from Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki to be adduced in his appeal.

Dec 3, 2021 - The Court of Appeal fixes Dec 7 to hear Najib's application to include new evidence.

Dec 7, 2021 - The court dismisses Najib's request to postpone the hearing of his application and the delivery of the decision scheduled for Dec 8 due to the fact that he and his defence counsel are casual contacts with his lawyer who tested positive for COVID-19.

Dec 8, 2021 - The delivery of Najib's appeal decision proceeds via Zoom application as Najib and his team of lawyers are under quarantine.

Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah says the defence team has filed an appeal to the Federal Court today.

-- BERNAMA