[UPDATED] A-GC: Najib's contempt bid premature, violates court order

New Straits Times

23-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's move to initiate contempt proceedings against former Attorney-General Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh has been described as premature and in direct violation of a standing court order.
The Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) said the issue raised in Najib's application is the subject of an ongoing appeal over the royal addendum, which has yet to be decided by the Federal Court.
"The High Court on April 28 granted a stay of all proceedings pending the disposal of the said appeal at the Apex Court.
"This stay encompasses all existing and future proceedings relating to the matter, including contempt of court actions," it said in a statement today.
The A-GC warned that any attempt to commence or continue contempt proceedings while the stay remains in force amounts to a breach of the court's directive and undermines the orderly administration of justice.
"Such actions are in direct contravention of the court's order and may be construed as an abuse of process.
"The A-GC will not hesitate to seek the dismissal of the application on these grounds," the statement said.
The statement was issued in response to an earlier report that Najib had, on May 21, filed contempt proceedings against Terrirudin over an addendum order issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which purportedly allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
The legal firm Messrs. Shafee & Co., which represented the former Pekan member of Parliament, said the application was based on clear evidence that Terrirudin had knowledge of the addendum order but chose to mislead the court.
The statement said that despite being aware of the addendum order, the former A-G had allegedly instructed his officers to mislead the High Court by dismissing Najib's claims as speculative, a fishing expedition, and based on hearsay.
It added that by choosing to mislead the court, the former A-G had brought the administration of justice into disrepute and should face serious consequences.
It added that both Malaysian and international legal principles, including recent Federal Court decisions, clearly require the government to present all relevant facts and documents in any judicial review.
Najib is serving a six-year sentence after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The High Court had initially sentenced him to 12 years in prison with a fine of RM210 million. This verdict was upheld by both the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.
However, his sentence was reduced to six years, and his fine was lowered to RM50 million following his petition for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022.