KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 12): Former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has denied that his new firm Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew will be discharging itself as solicitors for former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his final appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
In a three-page statement on Friday (Aug 12), Zaid said any media report stating to the contrary is mischievous and regrettable.
"My firm Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew did not make any statement during the case management [in Wednesday's] hearing in chambers that the firm will be discharging itself as solicitors. We do not abandon our clients," he said.
"My firm agreed to take on this brief (case) because our client Datuk Seri Najib Razak has legitimate grievances with regard to his conviction, particularly on matters relating to the rule of law, the law relating to bias, and conflict of interest," he added.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the Federal Court, which will hear Najib's case, will proceed in hearing the former premier's application to adduce further evidence with regard to then High Court trial judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, and if dismissed, the court would then hear the appeal against Najib's conviction and sentence.
It was during this moment that one of Najib's new counsels told the deputy registrars presiding that they were not prepared and may make an oral application to adjourn the matter, failing which they may discharge themselves.
The Edge then tried to contact lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik and Zaid for confirmation, and the response only came on Friday from the former minister.
Zaid set up Messrs Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew after settling a dispute with his former law firm Zaid Ibrahim & Co,commonly known as Zico, earlier this year. He left the firm after he was appointed as a minister in 2008.
He questioned how such reports came out on Wednesday, instantaneously after the final case management, and also questioned the source, adding that it is the sacred duty of any advocate to represent an accused person with such grievances.
“In doing so, I am not prejudging the case, as any respectable lawyer will attest. Passing judgment is the domain of the courts. As lawyers, our duty is to present the client’s case to the best of our ability.
“We expect the courts to uphold time-honoured legal principles, and that the rule of law will prevail. Datuk Seri Najib’s legitimate expectation is that he will get a full and fair hearing before the Federal Court. It is our duty as his solicitors to enable that process,” he added.
Regret at scurrilous attacks
The former minister also expressed regret at the scurrilous attacks being made against his firm and him personally.
He said Sepang Member of Parliament Mohamed Hanipa Maidin's insinuation — that lawyers who take on briefs at the last minute are motivated by money — is grossly unfair.
“I want to state categorically that throughout my career as a lawyer and politician, I have never been motivated by money or position. Justice is what matters to me. In any event, it is a preposterous notion that there is never a justification for a last-minute change of lawyers.
“In this case, there was a genuine need for a change of perspective, and a reset of arguments in defence of our client’s case. Another criticism levelled against Datuk Seri Najib and my firm is that our appointment was purely an attempt to delay the appeal,” he said.
“In answer to that, I ask that my critics compare this case to other high-profile cases that have come up before the courts. There is no doubt that this case has taken much less time to reach its present stage than most, if not all, of such cases. My pompous critics will know whose cases I am referring to,” he added.
According to Zaid, this is not the first time that Najib has changed lawyers in this matter.
“I believe that my firm has brought a fresh perspective to the case. On our advice, Datuk Seri Najib has abandoned certain propositions previously put forward. We are purely focused on constitutional principles, the rule of law, principles of natural justice, and the specific legal and factual issues in the application for a retrial and the appeal proper.
“We are prepared to proceed with the motion for a retrial when it comes up for hearing on Monday (Aug 15),” he said, adding that as lawyers, they have a duty to justice without fear or favour.
“We must be slow to question the basis on which any other lawyer takes a brief, because we must respect the professional judgment of our peers. Applying our professional judgment, my firm placed itself on record as solicitors for Datuk Seri Najib. We will continue to act for him for so long as we have his confidence,” the former minister reiterated.