KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is demanding an apology and RM10mil in damages from former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas over allegations against him in the latter's memoir.
In a letter of demand (LOD) which was served through law firm Shafee & Co and sighted by The Star, it said that Thomas had published a book containing "Chapter 42 - Altantuya" where serious defamatory statements against Najib were made.
The letter, dated Tuesday (Feb 2), was signed by Najib's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
It claimed that in the chapter, Thomas had conveyed a message to his readers that irrespective of the decisions of the courts, Najib was somehow involved in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.
"Your impugned statements as stated above of our client were grossly negligent, reckless, irresponsible, deliberate, malicious and aimed to lower our client's esteem and good reputation in the eyes of the public and further expose our client to public hatred, scorn, odium, contempt and ridicule.
"Your impugned statements of our client portraying him as a murderer by direct inference and innuendo are wholly untrue, false, frivolous, vexatious and devoid of substance nor evidence," it stated.
It also said Thomas' statements on Najib in the book were clearly motivated by mala fide and a selfish pursuit of seeking cheap publicity fuelled by "ego, sensationalism, and profiteering".
It added that Thomas' statements amounted to serious libel of Najib and had caused him considerable distress and embarrassment.
It demanded an apology from Thomas to be published in newspapers of Najib's choice, an undertaking by Thomas not to repeat the allegations and comments in the book, and RM10mil in damages for the injury caused to Najib's reputation.
It sought a reply from Thomas by noon on Feb 5, failing which a legal action for libel would be initiated.
On Jan 31, Thomas released a 573-page memoir entitled "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness".
