Najib's SRC appeal hearing extended one more day

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal extended the hearing of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd’s appeal for one more day to May 6.

The appeal was supposed to end today, but Najib’s defence team could not wrap up their reply to the prosecution’s case, resulting in the court extending the hearing.

Earlier, Judge Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil rapped the former premier’s defence team for repeating themselves.

“We are hearing the same points again and again and again. You are repeating yourselves. Most of the issues have been touched. Try to focus on something really substantive.

“We don't know whether this point is about Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) or criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges. Go to the main one, the most important thing is to make it clear, so we can see clearer, or else, it will confuse us all,” stressed the judge.

When the judge asked whether the lawyer could finish his submissions by today, Harvinderjit Singh replied “My Lord, I, at least, need half a day to submit my part and after that Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee will touch about the Arab donation.”

At this juncture, ad hoc prosecutor Datuk V.Sithambaram stood up and jokingly said: “If you, My Lord, are not firm, we would be here until Hari Raya Haji,” drawing laughter from the gallery.

Justice Abdul Karim, who presided over the appeal with Justices Datuk Has Zanah Mehat and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, then fixed May 6 for additional hearing of Najib’s appeal.

Najib’s appeal was originally set for 12 days from April 5 until 22. Later, on the application of his defence team, the bench set additional hearing days on April 27 and 28.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on July 28 last year sentenced Najib to 12 years’ jail and a RM210 million fine after finding him guilty on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position, involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.

-- BERNAMA