Dr Mahathir loses appeal, Najib not a public officer

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and two others have lost their appeal over a misfeasance in public office suit filed against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at the Court of Appeal today.
The three-member appellate bench upheld the decision of the High Court in agreeing that Najib could not be considered as a public officer, and the RM2.642 billion suit could not stand.
“We agree with the learned judge’s (of the High Court) decision. There is no merit in the appeal. We affirm the decision of the High Court,” said Justice Idrus Harun who presided over the bench.
The other judges were Justice Vernon Ong and Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli.
Mahathir, along with former Umno members Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Anina Saadudin, filed the suit against Najib for misfeasance in public office and breach of fiduciary duty last year, in the wake of the 1MDB scandal.
High Court judge Justice Abu Bakar Jais on April 28 allowed an application by Najib to strike out the suit when he ruled that the prime minister was not a public officer.