CONVICTED former prime minister Najib Razak has applied to examine five Inland Revenue Board (IRB) officers over their affidavits on the bankruptcy notice against him for failing to pay RM1.69 billion in tax arrears.

Najib’s lawyer Wee Yeong Kang, when contacted by Bernama, said the application was filed on September 22, according to Rule 47 of the Insolvency Rules 2017.

Najib, 68, applied for a court order to examine the five officers on the grounds that the IRB had failed to provide details on how his tax bill had been calculated.

Wee said during the online case management in front of high court deputy registrar Ida Rahayu Sharif today that the IRB would oppose Najib’s move.

“The court then directed the IRB to file the application by October 13 and further case management has been set for November 9,” said Wee.

Senior revenue counsel Al-Hummidallah Idrus, representing the IRB, confirmed the matter when contacted.

The IRB filed a bankruptcy notice against Najib in the high court on February 4.

Based on the notice, Najib has to pay RM1.69 billion with a 5% interest rate per annum on the total balance from July 22, 2020 (date of high court’s decision) to February 4, 2021, and the total payable amount as of the latter date was RM1.74 billion.

On July 22 last year, the High Court ruled that Najib had to pay the IRB RM1.69 billion in additional tax and penalties for the period 2011 to 2017 after allowing the IRB’s application to enter a summary judgement against the former.

This ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal on September 9. Najib has since applied to the Federal Court to have the judgment overturned. – Bernama, September 29, 2021.