Najib's Lawyer Refuses To Represent Him After Apex Court Denies Bid To Adjourn SRC Appeal
Lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said that he could not prepare the case in time and apologised to the Federal Court.
By Sadho Ram — 18 Aug 2022, 11:24 AM — Updated over 2 years ago
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's RM42 million SRC International corruption appeal took a dramatic turn today, 18 August.
Najib's lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik has refused to submit and is seeking to discharge himself from the case at the Federal Court.
When Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who is leading the five-member bench, made it clear to Hisyam that the court will not grant any postponement, Hisyam sought to discharge himself from the SRC case, saying that he wasn't given time to prepare for the main appeal hearing.
She then asked Hisyam if he was aware of the consequences if he did not proceed with the appeal, to which, he replied that he knew but reiterated that he was not prepared to go on and won't submit.
"You are aware you will be leaving your client unrepresented. Do you accept that?" Tengku Maimun asked Hisyam, who said, "I accept", with the Chief Justice calling for a short break.
The Federal Court is currently on a temporary break to decide over the bid by Najib's lawyer Hisyam to discharge himself from acting for him
