Zahid cited the Federal Court’s decisions to disallow new evidence being adduced, his lawyers being denied more time, as well as the leak of a guilty verdict before the case had been disposed of.

“The chief registrar of the Federal Court confirmed the leaked ruling, adding that it was a draft copy.

“The reality is, the guilty verdict was already decided (ahead of time),” Zahid told Umno members at a special gathering here today.

Zahid said he didn’t mean to dispute the top court’s findings but merely asked for some fairness in Najib’s appeal.

He said the absence of certain “characters” in Najib’s trial, such as former central bank governor Zeti Aziz – despite her name being mentioned frequently in the case – would also lend to the perception that Najib had been tried unfairly.

Zahid said it appeared that the judiciary was regarded as independent only when Umno leaders were being convicted, while the party’s foes were freed.