Najib withdraws suit against govt, to continue action against ex-AG Thomas

Najib Razak today withdrew his suit against the Malaysian government over charges of abuse of power in prosecuting him in several cases, including the 1MDB scandal.

However, he is continuing his suit against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas as the first defendant.

Earlier, Najib’s lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin informed High Court judge Ahmad Bache that his client had decided to withdraw the suit against the government as the second defendant.

"The suit against the government discontinued," Firoz said.

Thomas meanwhile is represented by lawyer Alan Adrian Gomez.
 
Najib, 69, appeared in court wearing a grey suit and sat in the public gallery surrounded by six guards from Kajang Prison. Also present was his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

According to the notice of termination of the suit filed by Messrs Raj, Ong & Yudistra yesterday, the former prime minister has discontinued his action against the government with no order regarding costs.

Najib filed the suit on Oct 22, 2021, claiming that the charges against him were part of a move planned in advance by Thomas and in line with the Pakatan Harapan government’s plan at the time.

Najib claimed that he had been wrongly accused in court in the case 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 is seeking a declaration that Thomas committed misfeasance in public office as well as RM1.9 million in damages including negotiation fees for the audit team to review the documentation for the preparation of facts to deal with the prosecution against him.