Ex-AG Thomas denies defaming Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: Former a orney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas has denied claims made in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s le er of demand seeking a public apology for allegedly defaming him in his recently released autobiography.
“Our client denies all material allegations in your le er. Furthermore, our client denies that he has commi ed the tort of defamation against your client, as alleged or at all,” he said in a le er of reply through his lawyers Tommy Thomas Advocates and Solicitors.
“We have instructions to accept service of process. All our client’s rights are reserved,” read the le er dated Feb 4 that was addressed to Najib’s lawyers Messrs. Shafee & Co.
On Feb 2, the former prime minister sent a le er through his solicitor to demand an apology and RM10 million in damages from Thomas over allegations against him in his book titled “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”. In the le er, Najib also gave Thomas until noon on Feb 5 to provide a satisfactory reply, failing which legal proceedings will be started against him.
He also demanded an apology and an unequivocal public retraction of the alleged defamatory statement in chapter 42 under the title “Altantuya” in the book.
Najib also said that Thomas had conveyed by clear inference and innuendo the message that he was satisfied as the then A orney General and public prosecutor of the truthfulness of the allegations by two convicted persons that Najib was involved in directing them to murder Altantuya.
He added that the statement was clearly motivated by mala fide and principally done in Thomas’ selfish pursuit of seeking cheap publicity, fuelled by his ego, sensationalism and profiteering.
On Jan 31, Thomas released a 573-page memoir titled “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”.
The police said that 134 reports have so far been lodged against Thomas over his book, which contains allegations against many parties over various subjects.
Meanwhile, Thomas yesterday pledged to cooperate with ongoing police investigations related to the contents of his memoir My Story: Justice in the Wilderness which is alleged to have defamed and insulted various parties.
His lawyer, Sangeet Kaur said her client has extended the pledge to Inspector-General Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador in relation to three investigations papers (IP) the police is currently probing.
“We have wri en to the InspectorGeneral of Police (Abdul Hamid Bador) extending our client’s fullest cooperation to give statements,” she was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini. Federal CID director Datuk Huzir Mohamed recently disclosed that the police have opened three IPs against Thomas and that investigations were carried out by Bukit Aman’s Classified Criminal Investigation Unit.
“One of the investigation papers opened is in accordance with Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation and another investigation paper is opened in accordance with (leaking information) and Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act 1972.
“The third investigation paper was opened in accordance with Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 (acts that have a tendency to incite),” Huzir was quoted as saying.
Thomas’ 500-page book My Story: Justice in the Wilderness was published on January 30 and has generated intense interest and controversy ever since.
Its contents cover his tenure as the AG from 2018 to 2020 during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration before it collapsed following Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation as prime minister.
Among the individuals who lodged police reports against Thomas include former A orney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali and former Solicitor-General III Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.