Malaysia’s Supreme Court has started hearing former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s appeal to overturn a prison sentence on corruption charges.

But as the hearing began, defense attorney Husam Teh-Po-Tek surprised the five judges by saying he was “asking to be released from this case.” Court president Tengko Mimun-Tuan-Mat, a lawyer, replied that he “cannot resign so easily and ordered the hearing to be postponed.” Hearings initiated by the Supreme Court in this case will last until August 26.

On Tuesday, a federal court denied Razak’s motion for a retrial, paving the way for the Supreme Court to begin considering an appeal against the conviction. Razak, 69, and his ruling party were defeated in the 2018 elections amid allegations of involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak is accused along with those close to him of embezzling billions of dollars from the fund and spending it on purchases ranging from luxury real estate to valuable works of art. After a lengthy legal battle, Razak was found guilty of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust by transferring RM42 million ($10.1 million) from the 1MDB unit to his bank account. In July 2020, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

If the guilty verdict is confirmed, Razak will immediately go to jail to begin his execution, according to his lawyer, and despite the conviction, Razak still enjoys wide influence and popularity among part of the electorate.