KUALA LUMPUR (March 6): The Federal Court has fixed June 14 to hear the appeals in the income tax arrears cases of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (involving RM1.69 billion) and his son Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib (RM37.64 million).
The new hearing date was fixed during case management on Monday (March 6) before Federal Court deputy registrar Suhaila Haron.
This followed a rescheduling by the apex court, according to lawyer Wee Yeong Kang, who is representing both Najib and Nazifuddin.
"The hearing of the appeals fixed for March 13 has been vacated due to rescheduling of the cases by the Federal Court," Wee told The Edge when contacted.
During case management on Monday, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) was represented by Ainur Mardhiah Ramli, Al-Hummidallah Idrus and Qhistina Mohd Apandi. Kelly Choo, from the Malaysian Bar, was also present as amicus curiae or a friend of the court.
The Federal Court in May last year granted leave to Najib and Nazifuddin to hear the full merits of their appeals against the summary judgement.
Subsequently in September, a three-member Federal Court bench led by Chief Justice (CJ) Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat granted a stay of the summary judgement entered in Najib’s case, where he owed RM1.69 billion to the IRB, and Nazifuddin’s RM37.64 million case, pending the disposal of their appeals to the apex court.
The CJ allowed the stay, following no objection from the IRB.
The summary judgement was entered against Najib and his son by two separate High Courts. The Court of Appeal later in October 2021 upheld the decision.
The duo's appeals will focus on nine questions of law pertaining to income tax, which their lawyer first posed to the Federal Court.