A five-member Federal Court bench is expected to hear the application, made under Rule 137 of the Federal Court Rules 1995, to first determine whether it is a fit and proper case for a review.

Najib, 69, filed for the review in September after the apex court affirmed his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in the case.

On Aug 23, a five-member bench chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat also maintained his 12-year jail term and fine of RM210 million or, in default, an additional five years in prison.

Najib is asking for that decision to be set aside and for another Federal Court bench consisting of at least seven judges to rehear his appeal.

Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, was also present in the courtroom this morning.

Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli is heading the five-member panel hearing Najib’s bid.

The others on the bench are Federal Court judges Vernon Ong, Rhodzariah Bujang and Nordin Hassan, and Court of Appeal judge Abu Bakar Jais, who has been co-opted to be on the bench.

Such an arrangement is allowed under Article 122 (2) of the Federal Constitution, which states that the Chief Justice may nominate a Court of Appeal judge to sit as a judge in the Federal Court.