PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has failed in his final bid to stay his appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial at the Federal Court.
A five-member panel dismissed an oral application made by his lead counsel, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who was seeking a three- to four-month adjournment.
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who chaired the panel, said the change in law firms at the eleventh hour by the Pekan MP was done with full knowledge of the hearing dates.
“While the appellant is entitled to a right to change his counsel, he is not entitled to make his choice at the expense of the court,” said the top judge.
Earlier, Hisyam made a passionate plea to stay the hearing of the appeal proper, citing time constraints as Najib had changed his line-up of defence lawyers last month.
The court also ordered for the hearing of the main appeal to begin this Thursday.
More to come