Najib's SRC appeal hearing completed, court reserves judgement

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's appeal hearing against his conviction and jail sentence for misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd's funds at the Court of Appeal was completed today after the court heard the arguments from both parties for 15 days.

A three-member bench led by Justice Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, however, reserved its decision to a date yet to be fixed.

The other two judges on the bench are Datuk Has Zanah Mehat and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera.

"We thank all the parties involved...this hearing was exceptionally long compared to other appeal hearings.

"Since there were many important issues raised by both parties, we need some time to deliberate and to deliver our decision on the appeal," he said.

Earlier counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, representing Najib and ad hoc prosecutor Datuk V.Sithambaram concluded their submissions.

The former premier's appeal was originally set for 12 days from April 5-8, April 12-15 and April 19-22, but upon the application of the defence team, the bench set additional hearing days on April 27, 28, and May 6.

However, the hearing on May 6 has been postponed to today (May 18) as one of the defence team members was under quarantine due to being in close contact with a number of COVID-19 positive patients.

Najib is appealing against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision on July 28 last year which sentenced him to 12 years' jail and a RM210 million fine after finding him guilty on seven charges of CBT, money laundering and abuse of position, involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.

High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan sentenced Najib to 10 years' jail on each of the three counts of CBT and each of the three counts of money laundering and 12 years' jail and a RM210 million fine, in default five years' jail, in the case of abuse of position.

However, he will only serve 12 years in jail as the judge ordered all the jail sentences to run concurrently.

The Pekan MP is currently out on bail of RM2 million in two sureties pending appeal.

-- BERNAMA