SRC appeal: Najib files bid to allow UK Queen's Counsel to act for him

According to a copy of the application made available to the media today, he sought to be admitted and enrolled to practise in the High Court in Malaya or Peninsular Malaysia to appear as Najib's lead counsel in the SRC appeals at the Federal Court and all other causes or matters related hereto.

One of the reasons for Laidlaw's application was stated as being that Najib's SRC appeal at the Federal Court will involve serious, complex and/or novel issues related to several branches of criminal and civil laws, practice and evidence, the constitutional rights of the appellant, the conduct of proceedings by the prosecution, the adjudication of criminal cases by a trial court and the administration of a Criminal Justice system.

It also stated that another reason as being that Laidlaw possesses special qualifications, experience and expertise which is not available among lawyers in Malaysia, for the purposes of Najib's SRC appeal at the Federal Court.

On April 29, the Federal Court has fixed 10 days in August to hear Najib's final bid against his conviction and jail sentence for misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.

On Dec 8, 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld Najib's conviction and the 12-year jail sentence and the RM210 million fine for misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International.

Judge Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, who presided with Datuk Has Zanah Mehat and Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, unanimously dismissed Najib's appeal against the High Court's decision on July 28, 2020.

The Federal Court would be the final avenue for the Pekan MP to appeal against his sentence and conviction involving the SRC International case.