Mr Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, lead counsel in Najib’s defence team, said that “he was in no position to take part in proceedings” to argue for his client, a move that Najib described as leaving him “in effect, without a defence counsel”.
This unusual move came after Mr Hisyam earlier attempted, unsuccessfully, to discharge himself in front of a five-member bench at Malaysia’s highest court.
He cited a lack of preparedness to start arguing his client’s final appeal, which was scheduled to start yesterday and was supposed to last until Aug 26. Mr Hisyam was appointed as Najib’s lead counsel only three weeks ago.
But the judges’ panel chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat unanimously refused Mr Hisyam’s eleventh-hour attempt to discharge himself, which would have left Najib unrepresented.
This story is from the August 19, 2022 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the August 19, 2022 edition of The Straits Times.
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