KUALA LUMPUR – Disgraced former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has dropped the Malaysian government from a RM1.9 million suit over “wrongful” charges against him, which included the misappropriation of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.
However, Najib did not drop Tan Sri Tommy Thomas from the suit that was filed on October 22 last year, thus making the former attorney-general the sole defendant.
Najib’s lawyer Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin told high court judge Datuk Ahmad Bache this during a hearing of Thomas’ application to strike out the suit today.
When the judge asked about the effect of dropping the government as a second defendant, Thomas’ lawyer Alan Gomez said even though the government is no longer a party to the suit, it is still considered “vicariously liable”.
Gomez added that it is up to the plaintiff to withdraw the suit against any party.
In the statement of claim, Najib had argued that he had been wrongly accused in court for the cases of 1MDB, International Petroleum Investment Company, abuse of power under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
He also claimed that the charges against him were part of a move planned in advance by Thomas, in line with the Pakatan Harapan government’s plan at the time.
Najib claimed that in 2015 Thomas had met Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to discuss his alleged wrongdoings and mismanagement over the 1MDB funds, and advised the senior politician to take civil and criminal action against him over his involvement in the sovereign wealth fund.
He is seeking RM1.9 million in damages and a declaration that Thomas had committed misfeasance in public office, including consultation fees for the audit team to review documentation for preparation of facts to address prosecution against him. – The Vibes, September 9, 2022
