If Najib gets a royal pardon, he will still want to fight in court.
Counsel representing Datuk Seri Najib Razak have indicated today that it was “not the end” for the SRC International case, following the Federal Court’s decision to dismiss the latter’s bid for it to review its ruling last year upholding Najib’s conviction, sentence and fine for misappropriating RM42 million from the company.
Defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said this in response to questions over the finality to litigation after the majority decision by four judges on the Federal Court panel rejected Najib’s challenge against his conviction and sentence in the SRC case.
During a press conference after today’s hearing, Muhammad Shafee said a minority judgment in today’s hearing has provided his client further avenues to possibly mount anew court action.
“I think the SRC case very unlikely will end that fast. Let’s assume if he gets a royal pardon, I think he will still want to fight in court.
“He is determined he never did anything wrong. He was misled.
“We think this case has been decided on grounds which are difficult to comprehend, and we are surprised the current Federal Court did not even allow him to reargue the matter because his lawyers were not prepared at the time.
“Is there a fear he will get an acquittal?” he told reporters at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.
When pressed further if Najib will seek to file a new review bid, Muhammad Shafee declined to confirm.
“As result of the minority judgment, there is avenue that is open. There are cases whose reviews are done not only once. As long as there are grounds for fresh review it can be done,” he said.