Latest news with #AhmadTerrirudin
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Shafee claims 7 letters sent to confirm Najib's addendum
Lawyer Shafee Abdullah said if no such addendum existed, there was no harm in replying his letters to that effect. KUALA LUMPUR : Lawyer Shafee Abdullah today claimed he had sent at least seven letters to individuals and institutions seeking to confirm the existence of the addendum in relation to former prime minister Najib Razak. He said none of the parties responded to his letters or acknowledged their receipt. 'We sent letters to former attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh, the home minister (Saifuddin Nasution Ismail), the law and institutional reform minister (Azalina Othman Said), the prisons commissioner-general, and the government, and CC'd the prime minister and his deputy,' he said at a press conference today. He said if no such addendum existed, there was no harm in replying his letters to that effect. Najib obtained leave from the Court of Appeal to begin judicial review proceedings to enforce a royal decree so as to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest. However, proceedings have been suspended pending the disposal of the current attorney-general's appeal to the Federal Court. The Federal Territories Pardons Board announced on Feb 2 last year that Najib's prison sentence in his SRC International case had been halved from 12 years to six, and his fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. On May 21, Najib filed an application to initiate contempt proceedings against Terrirudin. He claimed that Terrirudin, while serving as attorney-general, failed to reveal the former king's royal addendum allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest. However, the Attorney-General's Chambers said Najib's action was a direct breach of a court order regarding his judicial review and claims that Terrirudin tried to 'mislead' the court on the addendum had no basis. Shafee said that when a judicial review is filed, it is compulsory for the summoned party to be honest about their explanation and any document they have in hand. 'They cannot play hide-and-seek,' he said.
Malaysian Reserve
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Allegation against Ahmad Terrirudin baseless, says AGC
by FARAH SOLHI THE allegation that former Attorney General (AG) Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh misled the Kuala Lumpur High Court during the leave stage of Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak's judicial review in his house arrest case is completely baseless, said the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC). In a statement today, AGC said the allegation towards Ahmad Terrirudin, raised in Najib's recently filed committal application in High Court, were among the issues currently being scrutinised in Najib's appeal at Apex Court, which will be heard on July 1 and 2. It added that an order of stay of proceedings (postponement) has been issued by the High Court, and that any attempts to commence or continue the contempt proceedings while the order is still in force is a direct violation of the court order and undermines the orderly administration of justice. 'Ahmad Terrirudin has performed his duties in accordance with the constitutional functions of the office. Initiating committal proceedings while the appeal is still pending is inappropriate, premature and prejudicial. 'The ACG calls on all parties to allow the Federal Court to examine and decide on the issues of law and facts, that may be brought forward without pressure, speculation or outside action that could interfere with the course of justice. 'Justice must be served within the framework of the rule of law, not through public statements or side-track litigation,' the statement read. The AGC added that it will not hesitate to apply for the application to be dismissed as an abuse of court process. The AGC further said that the High Court, on April 28, has granted a stay of all proceedings until the appeal is decided by the Federal Court. On May 22, it added, the same court has confirmed in writing that the stay covers all existing and future proceedings related to this case, including contempt of court proceedings. Earlier today, Najib's counsels Messrs Shafee & Co said that they have filed a committal application against Ahmad Terrirudin on May 21, at the High Court where they cited grounds of contempt of court as the basis of the application. The law firm stated that Ahmad Terrirudin, being the AG at the material time, had knowingly, consciously and deliberately instructed or caused arguments that were untrue to be presented to the High Court, during Naijb's leave application for judicial review in regards to the Addendum Order. 'Despite having such knowledge, our client asserts that the former AG, while in office, instructed his officers to mislead the High Court during the hearing of the leave application for judicial review by portraying our client's claim regarding the existence of the Addendum Order as a fishing expedition — speculative and based on hearsay — despite knowing this to be patently false. 'It is our client's view that as a public officer, the former AG owed the court a paramount duty of candour,' said the law firm's statement. Najib, 71, filed his judicial review application on April 1 last year, seeking a mandamus order from the court to compel the government and six other respondents to confirm the existence of the royal addendum. However, the Kuala Lumpur (KL) High Court dismissed his application on July 3 of the same year, ruling that the affidavits submitted constituted hearsay evidence. On Jan 6 this year, the Court of Appeal returned Najib's application regarding the royal addendum to the High Court for a hearing. On April 28, the Federal Court allowed the current AG's appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision, and the Apex Court is scheduled to hear the case in July. Najib is currently serving his jail term in Kajang Prison, Selangor, after the Federal Court maintained KL High Court's decision which found him guilty of corruption involving RM42 millions of funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). Initially, he was sentenced to serve 12 years jail term and RM120 million fine on Aug 23, 2022. However, the Pardons Board announced on Feb 2 last year that his sentence was reduced to six years, with the fine lowered from RM120 million to RM50 million.
Malaysian Reserve
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Najib files contempt of court application against former AG
by FARAH SOLHI FORMER Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak has filed a committal application against former Attorney General (AG) Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh (picture). According to court documents seen by The Malaysian Reserve (TMR), the application — filed on May 21, 2025 — sought the Kuala Lumpur High Court's leave (permission) to initiate committal proceedings on the grounds of contempt of court. The law firm issuing the documents said that Ahmad Terrirudin, being the AG at the material time, had knowingly, consciously and deliberately instructed or caused arguments that were untrue to be presented to the High Court, during Naijb's leave application for judicial review in regards to the Addendum Order. 'He (Ahmad Terrirudin) had received the Order from the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong instructing him, by name, to execute the house imprisonment of the applicant's (Najib) from Jan 29, 2024. 'The respondent endorsing such false submissions to the court is contrary to his paramount duty to the administration of justice. 'It undermines public confidence in the judicial system and constitutes contempt in the face of the court and or an interference with the due administration of justice, especially when the office of the AG has a duty of candour towards the applicant and the public at large,' the document stated. Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the law firm reiterated its claims that Ahmad Terrirudin had direct knowledge of the Order, following a Pahang Royal Council letter that had formally confirmed the authenticity and validity of the Order, that was personally addressed to the former AG during his time in office. 'Despite having such knowledge, our client asserts that the former AG, while in office, instructed his officers to mislead the High Court during the hearing of the leave application for judicial review by portraying our client's claim regarding the existence of the Addendum Order as a fishing expedition — speculative and based on hearsay — despite knowing this to be patently false. 'It is our client's view that as a public officer, the former AG owed the court a paramount duty of candour. 'Malaysian and international jurisprudence, including decisions of our own Federal Court recently, makes plain that the government must place all relevant facts and documents before the court in any judicial review matter. 'A deliberate failure to do so undermines public confidence in the administration of justice, and indeed is an obstruction of justice itself,' the statement said. The firm further said that given Ahmad Terrirudin now serves as a Federal Court judge, it is essential that he be afforded an opportunity to answer these serious allegations, and if appropriate, purge the contempt. Najib, 71, filed his judicial review application on April 1 last year, seeking a mandamus order from the court to compel the government and six other respondents to confirm the existence of the royal addendum. However, the Kuala Lumpur (KL) High Court dismissed his application on July 3 of the same year, ruling that the affidavits submitted constituted hearsay evidence. On Jan 6 this year, the Court of Appeal returned Najib's application regarding the royal addendum to the High Court for a hearing. On April 28, the Federal Court allowed the current AG's appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision, and the Apex Court is scheduled to hear the case in July. Najib is currently serving his jail term in Kajang Prison, Selangor, after the Federal Court maintained KL High Court's decision which found him guilty of corruption involving RM42 millions of funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). Initially, he was sentenced to serve 12 years jail term and RM120 million fine on Aug 23, 2022. However, the Pardons Board announced on Feb 2 last year that his sentence was reduced to six years, with the fine lowered from RM120 million to RM50 million.
CNA
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Najib files contempt proceedings against ex-AG over house arrest royal addendum order
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has filed an application to initiate contempt proceedings against a former attorney-general for allegedly failing to reveal a royal addendum order that would allow the jailed leader to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest. In a statement on Friday (May 23), Najib's legal team said it filed the application against Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh, who is now a Federal Court judge, on Wednesday. Najib's lawyers claim it is based on evidence that Terrirudin had knowledge of the purported addendum order issued by former king Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, who is the Pahang ruler, but had chosen to 'mislead the High Court', reported news outlet New Straits Times. According to the lawyers, a copy of the order, dated Jan 29, 2024, was delivered to Najib through his son Mohamad Nizar Najib and its authenticity was confirmed in writing almost a year later, on Jan 4 this year, by the Pahang Royal Council. The document was personally addressed to Terrirudin, who allegedly instructed his officers to dismiss Najib's claims as 'a fishing expedition, speculative and based on hearsay evidence' when the issue was raised. 'As a public officer, the former AG (Attorney-General) owed the court a paramount duty of candour,' said the statement by Najib's lawyers, as quoted by Free Malaysia Today. 'A deliberate failure to do so undermines public confidence in the administration of justice, and indeed an obstruction of justice itself,' it added. Contempt of court refers to acts that hinder the functionality of the judiciary. Legal proceedings can be initiated to sanction such behaviour but prior approval – or leave – from the court is required. Najib's lawyers said the application for leave is a necessary first step in holding Terrirudin accountable by giving him the opportunity to respond to the allegations, The Edge reported. Terrirudin was appointed as a Federal Court judge in November last year and previously evaded queries from reporters on the matter of the royal addendum issued by the former king, Free Malaysia Today reported. Najib's lawyer Shafee Abdullah told the Court of Appeal during a hearing in January that the addendum was sent by the palace to Terrirudin on Jan 29 last year. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed in January this year that the purported addendum order was received by Terrirudin but it was sent back to the Istana Negara or National Palace after current king Sultan Ibrahim was inaugurated. Shafee voiced the intention to initiate contempt proceedings in February, and current Attorney-General Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar wrote to him to reconsider the move, The Edge reported. ROYAL ADDENDUM SAGA STILL ROILING POLITICAL WATERS Najib's fight to serve the remainder of his jail term for corruption related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal at home has roiled Malaysia's political waters. It has sparked friction in Anwar's unity government, which comprises four coalitions, including the one headed by United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Najib was the former president of UMNO. Najib began serving his prison term in August 2022 and had his sentence reduced from 12 to six years by the Pardons Board in February last year. The board also reduced his RM210 million (US$49.38 million) fine to RM50 million. Najib claimed that former king Sultan Abdullah had issued an order for him to be under house arrest during a Jan 29, 2024 meeting of the Pardons Board, one day before Sultan Abdullah ended his reign as Malaysia's monarch. In January this year, the Court of Appeal granted Najib leave to initiate judicial review proceedings to serve house arrest. The following month, however, the Malaysian government launched a challenge to the Court of Appeal ruling. UMNO leaders aligned with Najib have called for the current king Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to grant the jailed politician – who is still facing other 1MDB-related corruption charges in the Malaysian courts – a full pardon. But the unity government's other partners opposed the move, insisting that Najib had received a fair trial. Sultan Abdullah in February had called on all parties to 'stop further discussions' regarding the royal order he had allegedly issued, stressing that the matter was before the courts and called on all parties to respect the 'legal process'. In January, the AGC had also sought a gag order to ban public discussion of Najib's judicial review claim that the royal addendum decree existed.
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Najib's contempt bid a breach of court order, says AGC
The Federal Court has allowed the AGC to appeal against a ruling granting Najib Razak leave to commence judicial review proceedings over a royal decree placing him under house arrest. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Najib Razak's bid to initiate contempt proceedings against former attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh is a direct breach of a court order regarding the former prime minister's judicial review, says the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC). The AGC said the High Court last month granted a stay of proceedings in Najib's bid to enforce a royal decree placing him under house arrest. This is pending the hearing of the government's appeal in the apex court against the Court of Appeal's decision to grant Najib leave to commence judicial review proceedings to enforce the royal decree. 'The AGC will not hesitate to seek for this leave application (to initiate contempt proceedings) to be set aside (on grounds that it is) an abuse of court process,' it said in a statement. Earlier, Najib's lawyers said they filed an application on Wednesday to commence committal proceedings against Terriruddin over his purported failure to reveal the former king's royal addendum allowing Najib to serve his remaining jail sentence under house arrest. The AGC defended Terriruddin, saying the former AG had performed his duties in accordance with the law throughout his tenure. 'Claims that he tried to 'mislead' the court (over the addendum) have no basis. This action to initiate committal proceedings while the appeal process is ongoing is unnecessary, premature and prejudicial,' it added.
