NAJIB Razak, currently serving a 12-year jail term for corruption, has been allowed to attend an appeal hearing on October 4 for his RM1.9 million lawsuit against former attorney-general (AG) Tommy Thomas for alleged misfeasance in public office.

The former prime minister was seeking to reinstate his lawsuit at the Court of Appeal, previously struck by the High Court.

In brief online proceedings today, the Court of Appeal’s three-member bench comprising S. Nantha Balan, Azimah Omar and Mohamed Zaini Mazlan granted Najib’s ex-parte application to issue the “order to produce” (OTP) Najib from prison to attend his appeal hearing.

This was after Najib’s lawyer, Daniel Annamalai, requested the OTP, saying the appeal hearing would be held in person.

On November 25 last year, the High Court allowed Thomas’s application to strike Najib’s suit against him, which prompted Najib to file a notice of appeal on December 22.

In his suit, Najib claimed he had been charged with corruption linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd and 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.

Thomas was AG from June 4, 2018, to February 28, 2020.

In the suit filed on October 22, 2021, Najib said the charges against him were part of a move planned by Thomas and the Pakatan Harapan government at the time.

He sought 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 documentation for the preparation of facts to deal with the prosecution against him. – Bernama, September 27, 2023.