PUTRAJAYA (Dec 9): The Federal Court on Friday (Dec 9) fixed March 15 next year to hear the Malaysian Bar's motion to strike out King’s counsel Jonathan Laidlaw’s appeal to be admitted as an advocate and solicitor here and represent former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the review application for his SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction and sentence.
The date was fixed by the apex court deputy registrar Suhaila Haron.
Suhaila also fixed the same date to hear the Attorney General's Chambers's bid to intervene in Laidlaw's application.
The AG's Chambers and the Public Prosecutor have also filed an application and affidavit to strike out the appeal.
The date was confirmed by Datuk Gurdial Singh Nijar, who is appearing for the Kuala Lumpur Bar which is opposing the appeal along with the Malaysian Bar, when contacted by theedgemarkets.com.
Federal Counsel Noor Atiqah Zainal Abidin appeared for the attorney general, while Wan Mohd Arfan Wan Othman appeared for Laidlaw. Annemarie Pravina Vendargon represented the Malaysian Bar.
Laidlaw filed the appeal to the Federal Court after the High Court dismissed his application to be admitted as an advocate and solicitor on July 21 this year to represent Najib in his final SRC appeal at the apex court.
Subsequently, Najib was represented by senior counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik and other counsels from Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan and TH Liew.
After the Federal Court upheld Najib’s conviction and sentence, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who was rehired to represent Najib on Oct 12, said Laidlaw would represent the former prime minister in the rehearing of his appeal if his review application is allowed by the Federal Court.
Najib is serving a 12-year jail sentence in the Kajang Prison after he lost his appeal in the Federal Court to set aside his conviction on charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position involving SRC funds totalling RM42 million.
His review application for a re-hearing of his appeal has been fixed for three days beginning Jan 19.