Now, Tommy Thomas accused of sub judice

 

Baljit Singh Sidhu said Tommy Thomas had written about his client’s case when the matter was still before the Federal Court.

PETALING JAYA: Former attorney-general (AG) Tommy Thomas, who is already facing a lawsuit and was said to be misinformed, is now being accused of sub judice and defamation.

Lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu said Thomas should not have revealed facts about a case involving his client, former Asian International Arbitration Centre chairman Sundra Rajoo, in his new memoir.

Baljit said the matter of the judicial review for his client was still pending in the Federal Court.

Sundra came under the spotlight after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raided his office in 2018 on suspicion of using government funds to obtain favours from past and present ministers to extend his contract.

The raid followed anonymous letters which were sent to several people, including to the MACC, the former AG, former foreign affairs minister Saifuddin Abdullah and former inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun.

Baljit also said the judicial review had been filed before charges were filed against his client, as opposed to what was stated in Thomas’ book.

The lawyer added that Thomas was “the only AG in the world to act based on a poison pen letter”.

He added that the substance of Sundra’s charge was a purchase of books authorised by the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization.

“Revelations by Thomas on the advice given by the prime minister, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Conference of Rulers as well as other government officials are highly improper,” Baljit added, saying that his role as an advisor to the government came with confidentiality.

“I see that he has breached his oath of secrecy in office pursuant to the Official Secrets Act and possibly committed an offence under Section 203A of the Penal Code.”

Thomas’ memoir titled “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness” details the achievements and failures of the past Pakatan Harapan government among other key issues, such as the prosecution of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho and 1MDB, the extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, and the resignation of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. - FMT