Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s legal team has confirmed plans to file an appeal against his conviction in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case, citing numerous errors in the High Court’s judgment.
Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Najib’s lead defense lawyer, announced that the appeal will be formally lodged in few days, aiming to highlight what the team considers significant mistakes made during the trial. Shafee described the ruling as a rare instance in his decades-long career where the defense lost on nearly every argument presented.
Speaking at a press conference after the court proceedings on December 26, Shafee likened the trial to a football match in which the prosecution had scored overwhelmingly, leaving the defense unable to secure even minor victories. He stressed that the defense had anticipated the verdict, but the severity of the conviction and the fine imposed against Najib was strikingly high.
One of the primary grounds for the upcoming appeal will be the alleged acceptance of hearsay evidence throughout the trial. Shafee described the errors in the judgment as “blunders,” asserting that such a high-profile case should not have contained so many mistakes. He expressed cautious optimism that the appeal process would allow the defense to address these points in detail.
“Although I am deeply saddened for my client in many aspects, the more mistakes made by the judge, the stronger our case on appeal,” Shafee said.
Najib was previously convicted on multiple counts of abuse of power and money laundering, with sentences totaling 15 years on each of four abuse-of-power charges and concurrent five-year sentences for 21 money laundering charges. The High Court also imposed a total fine exceeding RM11 billion. Shafee questioned the reasonableness of this fine, suggesting it added to the grounds for contesting the verdict.
The defense team intends to argue that procedural irregularities, combined with errors in judicial reasoning, warrant a reassessment of both the conviction and the sentence. While the ruling was a significant moment in Malaysia’s legal and political landscape, Najib’s team maintains that the appeal process is a crucial mechanism to ensure fairness and scrutiny in high-profile cases.
The appeal will proceed through the Court of Appeal, with potential for escalation to the Federal Court depending on the outcomes. Legal analysts note that the case remains one of the most closely watched in Malaysia, with implications for public confidence in the judiciary and the accountability of political leaders.
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