High Court allows Najib's bid to stay Pua's misfeasance in public office suit

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): The High Court here had today allowed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's application for a stay of proceedings over a suit filed by Damansara MP Tony Pua Kiam Wee against him and the government regarding 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

In January 2017, Pua filed the suit, naming Najib and the government as defendants for wrongful use of public authority. Pua alleged that Najib had abused public office and benefitted by receiving money from 1MDB.

Today, the High Court allowed Najib's application for a stay of proceedings after Pua's lawyer Tan Cheng Leong and the government's lawyer said they have no objections to the application.

High Court Judge Datuk Rozana Ali Yusoff agreed to the stay application with no order as to costs.

The court fixed July 6, 2020 for case management.

Today, Tan told reporters after the court proceedings: "The plaintiff and the government had no objections to the stay of civil proceedings pending the disposal of the criminal case, as they involve similar facts."

On Thursday (Jan 2), Najib's lawyer Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun told the High Court that Najib had filed the stay of proceedings letter dated Dec 24, 2019.

It was reported that in the letter, Najib wants the civil suit to be delayed pending the disposal of his criminal trials especially those involving 1MDB, according to Mohd Hafarizam.

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