PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has instructed Datuk Seri Najib Razak to file in his application to appoint a Queen’s Counsel (QC) in his appeal in the RM42mil SRC International Sdn Bhd case by May 20.

       Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said the deadline was fixed by deputy registrar Siti Hajar Mustaffa during online case management here yesterday.

       “The hearing for the (QC) admission application is tentatively fixed on a date between June 20 and June 24,” DPP Mohd Ashrof said.

       On Jan 25, law firm Messrs Shafee & Co, representing Najib, wrote a six-page letter to the Chief Justice on its intention to appoint a QC from the United Kingdom to assist the former premier in complex legal questions in his SRC International appeal at the Federal Court.

       The QC’s appointment will be on an ad-hoc basis after obtaining admission from the Malaysian court.

       The apex court also fixed Feb 25 for case management in the main appeal filed by Najib, who is appealing his conviction and sentence in the RM42mil SRC International Sdn Bhd case.

       The actual hearing date for the appeal would be fixed at the next case management date, said DPP Mohd Ashrof.

       At the same time, the court also fixed March 15 and 16 for a hearing on Najib’s application to adduce fresh evidence in the appeal.

       On Dec 1, last year, Najib filed an application seeking for the Court of Appeal to allow and direct for the viva voce evidence (oral evidence) of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki, among others, to be taken for his SRC International appeal at the appellate court.

       This was dismissed on Dec 7, and Najib appealed against the dismissal.

       “The appeal records should be ready by the second week of February. Parties are to file submission on Feb 28. Any reply (to the submission) to be done orally before the panel of judges,” DPP Mohd Ashrof said.

       DPP Mohd Ashrof and ad hoc prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram appeared for the prosecution during the proceedings while Najib was represented by lawyer Syahirah Hanapiah.

       On Dec 8, 2021, the Court of Appeal affirmed the High Court’s conviction and sentence against Najib in the SRC International case.

       On July 28, 2020, High Court judge Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali sentenced Najib to a total of 12 years’ jail and a fine of RM210mil after finding him guilty of all seven charges relating to the misappropriation of RM42mil from the company’s funds.