PETALING JAYA: Najib Razak, who is serving a 12-year jail term for corruption, has been allowed to attend court on Oct 21 to follow proceedings of his suit against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas for alleged misfeasance in public office.
The former prime minister’s lawyer, Yudistra Darma Dorai, said trial judge Ahmad Bache allowed the ex parte application in a proceeding conducted online.
“The judge has allowed him to be present for the next proceeding on Oct 21,” Yudistra told FMT, adding that an application must be made in advance for each proceeding.
Najib filed the suit against Thomas last year, claiming that the 1MDB-related charges against him were “part of a long-planned, premeditated exercise”.
He is seeking RM1.94 million in damages.
He is alleging that Thomas, who was the attorney-general from June 4, 2018 to Feb 28, 2020, carried out his duties “in line with the plans” of the then Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
Thomas was appointed after PH won the 14th general election (GE14) and formed the government, with Dr Mahathir Mohamad assuming the post of prime minister for a second time.
He has filed an application to quash Najib’s lawsuit on grounds that the case was filed “for use in the campaign leading up to the Melaka state elections and the next general election”.
The hearing of the striking out application will continue on Oct 21.
Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were present in court at the previous proceeding on Sept 9.
Najib is currently serving time at Kajang prison after the Federal Court affirmed his conviction and sentence in his SRC International case on Aug 23.
