Najib allowed to attend appeal hearing in suit against ex-AG

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year jail term for corruption, has been allowed to attend court next week for his appeal hearing in the RM1.9mil lawsuit against former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas for alleged misfeasance in public office.

The hearing is scheduled on Oct 4 before the Court of Appeal.

The former prime minister is seeking to reinstate his lawsuit that was struck out by the High Court.

In a brief online proceeding yesterday, the Court of Appeal’s three-member bench comprising Justices S. Nantha Balan, Azimah Omar and Mohamed Zaini Mazlan granted Najib’s application for an order to produce (OTP) him from prison to attend his appeal hearing.

This was after Najib’s lawyer, Daniel Annamalai, requested for the OTP to be issued, saying that the appeal hearing would be held physically, Bernama reported.

On Nov 25 last year, the High Court allowed Thomas’ application to strike out Najib’s suit against him which prompted Najib to file a notice of appeal on Dec 22.

In his suit filed on Oct 22, 2021, Najib claimed the charges against him were part of a move that had been planned in advance by Thomas and it was also in line with the Pakatan Harapan government’s plan at the time.

The cases that Najib faces included the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption scandal, International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic), abuse of power under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001).

Thomas was the AG from June 4, 2018 to Feb 28, 2020.