FORMER prime minister Najib Razak has withdrawn his conflict-of-interest suit against Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Mohd Shukri Abdull and police commercial crimes head Amar Singh Ishar Singh.

Najib’s lawyer Badrul Hashim Abdullah said the suit was withdrawn today because the law firm wishes to realign its case with Najib’s other defence team led by Shafee Abdullah.

The suit, filed on June 30, will be refiled after settling the case with the other legal team, said Badrul after case management at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today. 

Najib filed suits against the three officials involved in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigations, citing possible conflicts of interest based on past statements.

The former Umno and Barisan Nasional chief sought costs and any further order and relief deemed appropriate by the court.

Shukri and Amar Singh led the investigations into troubled state investor fund 1MDB while Thomas is leading the prosecution against Najib.

On July 4, Najib was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of using his position for gratification under the Penal Code and MACC Act respectively.

In the charge under the MACC Act, Najib is accused of abusing his position as prime minister and finance minister to receive gratification totalling RM42 million between August 17, 2011 and February 2012.

Meanwhile, the first of three other charges under the Penal Code accused him of allegedly receiving RM27 million from then 1MDB subsidiary SRC International in his capacity as prime minister and finance minister.

The second and third Penal Code charges stated that he received RM4 million and RM10 million on the same dates from the same company.

Najib has claimed trial to all charges and his legal team is seeking to impose a gag order to prevent the public from discussing the court case. His lawyers say the gag order is be unconstitutional. – July 16, 2018.