PETALING JAYA: A retired senior legal officer has filed a police report against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas for allegedly tarnishing his reputation by claiming he is incapable of prosecuting Najib Razak for corruption in the SRC International case.
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Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria, who retired as a senior research officer at the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (ILKAP) in August, urged police to investigate Thomas for criminal defamation.
In his report lodged at the Cyberjaya police station last evening, Hanafiah said police should investigate Thomas under Section 499 of the Penal Code for also blemishing the reputation of other AGC officers and the image of the government law firm.
He said he was making the report after Thomas had referred to him in his memoir. “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”, that was made available to the public on Monday.
Hanafiah said he was in the Judicial and Legal Service for 33 years and held numerous positions and conducted public interest cases up to the Federal Court.
“Thomas’ allegation that I am incapable of prosecuting high-profile cases like SRC is intended to bring down my reputation,” he said in his report.
Hanafiah initially led the prosecution team when Najib was charged with corruption in connection with SRC funds, but Thomas later roped in senior lawyers Sulaiman Abdullah and V Sithambaram.
In July 2019, Hanafiah was moved to ILKAP in Bangi and remained there until his retirement.
Hanafiah was made solicitor-general III following the restructuring of the Attorney-General’s Chambers in 2018 after Thomas was made attorney-general in June that year.
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He reported directly to Thomas and was responsible for the litigation sector of the civil division, the prosecution division and the appellate and trial division.
All state prosecution director offices reported to him.
He was in the news in 2018 when he took responsibility for withdrawing the corruption charges against former finance minister Lim Guan Eng and a businesswoman.
On July 28 last year, the High Court found Najib guilty on seven counts of corruption in the SRC trial. The former prime minister was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and fined RM210 million for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
His appeal is now before the Court of Appeal.
Yesterday, Najib had also issued a letter of demand to Thomas for allegedly defaming him in his memoir in connection with the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.
Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said his client was seeking an apology and RM10 million in compensation.
The notice also called for an immediate and unequivocal public retraction of the statement from the book and an undertaking not to repeat the allegations and comments.
Najib has given Thomas until Friday to reply, failing which he will institute legal proceedings early next week.- FMT