The second time Najib and Rosmah’s legal advisers have withdrawn themselves from representing the former prime minister and his wife.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor have parted ways with their legal advisers who apparently decided not to represent the couple.
It was reported that former solicitor-general Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abidin, senior criminal lawyer M Puravalen and other members of the legal team failed to reach common ground with their client on several issues the team has “disintegrated” due to differences.
Najib allegedly could not agree with the strategy adopted by his legal team, and the matter was apparently aggravated by third-party interference, said to be several lawyers vying to act for the duo.
Reportedly, it had been a mutual decision to end the professional relationship and the parting of ways was on amicable terms.
Yusof and Puravalen were believed to be part of a seven-man legal team led by the former.
The two lawyers had accompanied Najib when he was summoned to the MACC office for questioning on May 24.
Meanwhile, Rosmah has appointed a new defence team, which includes K Kumaraendran and Geethan Ram Vincent, who accompanied her to the MACC today.
Senior counsel Kumaraendran confirmed that he and Geethan are representing Rosmah, but not Najib.
The embattled former prime minister is facing a battery of charges related to money laundering.
He is under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probing how RM42 million from SRC International had allegedly ended up in his private bank account.
On May 22, lawyers Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal and M Athimulan withdrew from his legal team because another team came in to replace them.