Najib Wants Chief Justice To Remove Herself From His SRC Appeal Over Her Husband's FB Post
In an affidavit of support, Najib claimed that Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat's thinking may have been unconsciously influenced by her husband's negative sentiments towards him.
By Sadho Ram — 23 Aug 2022, 12:00 PM — Updated over 2 years ago
Earlier today, 23 August, Najib Razak asked Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat to recuse herself from hearing his final SRC case appeal to set aside his corruption conviction and 12-year jail sentence
In what is seen as another step by the former prime minister to delay the delivery of the final verdict by the Federal Court, Najib's lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik filed an application asking the Chief Justice to recuse herself from a five-member panel presiding over his final appeal over the case linked to the 1MDB scandal.
Najib said the reason he was making the application was not to disrespect the Federal Court and the ongoing proceedings but in the interest of protecting the independence of the judiciary.
He said he received information about a Facebook post made by Tengku Maimun's husband Datuk Zamani Ibrahim on 11 May 2018 which carries "a real danger of bias", reported New Straits Times.
In his affidavit of support, Najib claimed that Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun's thinking may have been "unconsciously influenced" by her husband's negative sentiments towards him and his leadership
According to Najib, the Facebook post was highly disturbing in light of the fact that the Chief Justice's husband had clearly shown negative sentiments towards his leadership while he was prime minister.
"Being the husband of the chairperson that is adjudicating my appeal, it is likely that he would have influenced the thinking of the mind of the chairperson as to my alleged culpability. I further state that considering the nature of their spousal relationship, it is likely that the mind of the learned chairperson would have been unconsciously influenced by the sentiments against me held by her ladyship's husband," he said.
"Based on all the above, any findings by this Honourable Court made against me would be subject to scepticism. An informed and fair-minded observer will perceive that the decisions procured are tainted with bias and the public perception of the independence of the judiciary will be in doubt," Najib added.
Meanwhile, lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah — whom Najib had removed from his SRC appeal last month — has now returned
According to Shafee, the reason for his return is to assist the former prime minister's new legal team under Hisyam in their recusal bid against the Chief Justice.
