AGC seeks gag order over Najib's royal addendum case

Summary

• AGC will file for a protective order and gag order over Najib Abdul Razak's royal addendum judicial review.

• AGC is acting for Pardons Board and government who opposes ex-prime minister's civil court action.

The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) will seek for the court to issue a gag order over Najib Abdul Razak's royal addendum judicial review.

The AGC, which represented the Pardons Board and the government, informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court of this today.

The former prime minister's counsel Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee confirmed that the AGC notified this during case management before judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz.

"They (AGC) would be filing an application for protective order and gag order," Farhan said when contacted after case management.

The counsel said he was made to understand that the AGC sought the protective order and gag order not just for court documents but for the entire judicial review proceedings.

The lawyer added that the civil court set March 11 for further case management.

Najib's judicial review seeks the implementation of a royal addendum allowing him to serve the remainder of his six-year jail sentence under house arrest.

Last July, the High Court denied leave for Najib to commence the judicial review on reasons that the supporting affidavits by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail were hearsay.

However, the Court of Appeal recently reversed this ruling and granted leave to Najib's civil action. The judge ordered the matter be reverted to the Kuala Lumpur High Court to hear the merits of the judicial review.

The appellate court also allowed Najib to rely on his son Nizar's affidavit, whereby Nizar claimed the Pahang palace confirmed the addendum existed.

On Jan 29 last year, the Pardons Board issued a royal advice for Najib's 12-year jail sentence to be halved to six years and his RM210 million fine reduced to RM50 million.

However, Najib claimed there was also a supplementary royal decree allowing him house arrest.

The sentence is in relation to the RM42 million SRC International abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering case.

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