Najib stepson’s production firm files harassment suit in US

A Hollywood production company owned by Datuk Seri Najib Razak's stepson, Riza Aziz, has filed a suit with the US federal court against anonymous defendants, claiming that its computer systems were hacked and that its employees were harassed through emails and threatening phone calls. – August 2, 2015.A Hollywood production company owned by Datuk Seri Najib Razak's stepson has filed a suit with the US federal court against anonymous defendants, claiming that it has been "harassed" by unknown persons, reported entertainment site Deadline Hollywood.

The US-based site said Red Granite Pictures filed the complaint on July 29 after claiming that its computer systems were illegally accessed and that its employees were harassed through unwanted emails and threatening phone calls.

"Upon information and belief, on an unknown date prior to July 10, 2015, Defendants unlawfully and without permission obtained access to Plaintiff’s computer systems, and used that unauthorised access to, among other things, collect non-public information on Plaintiff’s business operations, employee lists, and internal communications,” Deadline Hollywood quoted the court document which was filed by Red Granite law firm Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP from New York City.

The site also reported that the document alleged that employees received emails with links to "defamatory blog postings or reports alleging improper activities allegedly connected with Plaintiff, often accompanied by sensational or offensive subject lines”.

Red Granite is co-owned by Riza Aziz, the stepson of Najib. He had partnered with renowned  producer Joey McFarland to set it up in 2010 and have produced several Hollywood films, including the Academy Award nominated movie 'Wolf Of Wall Street'.

The company also claimed it had been receiving “a series of harassing and threatening phone calls to an employee of a related company, who advises Plaintiff.”

In naming the defendants as “John/Jane Does,”  Red Granite said it was forced to hire information security consultants as a result of the "cat-and-mouse game" to counter "daily harassment".

Deadline Hollywood said the filing may have implications beyond the entertainment industry, but did not elaborate on it.

The site also said it was unclear if the "improper activities" noted in the filing are related to the current investigation over billions of ringgit allegedly banked into Najib's personal accounts, which the prime minister had denied he had used it for personal use, or that illicit money were allegedly used to finance the company, which both Aziz and Joey had repeatedly denied.

This is not the first time Red Granite has hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons.

It financed and produced the 'Wolf of Wall Street' where Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, more popularly known as Jho Low, received a "special thanks" in the end credits of the film.

It also settled a year-long dispute in July last year with producers Steve Stabler and Brad Krevoy over the film 'Dumb and Dumber To', the sequel to 'Dumb and Dumber' over claims of "racketeering" and "ill-gotten gains".

- TMI