NAJIB Razak is likely out to make himself look like the victim of prejudice by suing top government officials involved in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd investigations, said lawyers and observers.

The court action can also be seen as an attempt by the former prime minister to make it seem that he is being persecuted by the new government.

His legal team, on June 30, had filed suits against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Mohd Shukri Abdull, police commercial crimes head Amar Singh Ishar Singh and Attorney-General Tommy Thomas.

The suits were based on past statements made by the trio. Najib is now seeking a court decision on whether those handling the case against him have any element of conflict of interest.

Najib, on Wednesday, 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.

Human rights lawyer Fahri Azzat, who described Najib’s suits as “an interesting development”, said it looked like the former prime minister and his lawyers are going with such a narrative – that he is being persecuted.

“For me, it feels as if Najib and his lawyers are focused on either winning or maintaining the narrative that Najib is being persecuted.

“This is consistent with the (interim) gag order, and Najib’s statements on social media that he has done nothing wrong and is being taken out by the Pakatan Harapan government,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court granted Najib’s application for an interim gag order on the digital and print media to prevent them from discussing the merits of his case.

“Initiating these actions are consistent with his statements in public. I think he must stop these actions, if not, it would not seem like he means it.

“See how that action backfired with wanting to sue The Wall Street Journal.”

Najib had previously threatened to sue the US newspaper over its report implicating him in the 1MDB scandal, but he never did.

Fahri said the suits against the top government officials may also benefit Najib, in that he may get more information from the investigators to help him prepare his defence.

He said the suits may be “an insidious attempt” to get more information than Najib is entitled to under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code, which requires the prosecution to serve the documents to be tendered during trial to the defence.

“There are several dimensions to that action, where I can see he would use some leverage.”

Lawyer N. Surendran said Najib’s suits looked like an attempt to make it seem that the authorities are prejudiced against him, based on what has been reported.

“It appears to be an attempt to bolster their narrative, that both the enforcement and prosecution authorities are prejudiced against Najib.”

The government is now controlled by Barisan Nasional’s rival, Pakatan Harapan, with Dr Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister.

PH, the former opposition pact, had promised Malaysians before the 14th general election that the 1MDB scandal would be reopened for investigation.

Soon after taking over Putrajaya, PH had acted swiftly, barring Najib and his wife from travelling overseas, raiding their private residence and other properties linked to them, and seizing cash and luxury items.

Last month, police had said the cash and items seized from Najib were valued at up to RM1.1 billion. MACC has frozen hundreds of bank accounts connected to the scandal, including those of Najib, his family members and his former party, Umno.

Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng viewed Najib’s suits as a defensive move to discredit his prosecutors, and to weaken their case.

“The claim of prejudice is probable, and the MACC chief was warned about his outburst against Najib after his press conference.”

In May, Shukri had a tell-all presser, shortly after the change of government. He told the media how he had been threatened when he previously spearheaded the probe into what happened to the billions siphoned off from 1MDB.

It was reported that he said he found out that he was going to be accused as being part of a conspiracy to bring down the government. He was MACC deputy chief when Najib was in power.

Shukri’s remarks had raised concerns that they might jeopardise the ongoing probe into the scandal.

Khoo said he is unsure if Najib’s suits would help his case.

“The learned judges are supposedly capable enough to consider the merits of evidence fairly and objectively to dispense justice.”

On Facebook, some users said they are puzzled by the suits, filed by an accused against the authorities.

“Very funny in Malaysia. When someone investigates you, you sue him. What kind of logic is this?” said user Loh Boon.

But, Najib also has his supporters, like Sam Anwar Hussein, who lauded the move.

“A very good move by Najib! He should have done this when fitnah (slander) regarding him and 1MDB circulated a while back.

“He should be more ruthless against these liars!” – July 8, 2018.