Najib to file defence against PKR lawsuit on Oct 1 - Lawyer

Lawyer Datuk Mohd Hafarizam, who is representing Najib, said his client would file his defence on Oct 1.

"I've been contacted by the Prime Minister this morning and he has appointed me to represent him.

"The Court has set Oct 1 for the Prime Minister to file his defence," Mohd Hafarizam told Astro AWANI today.

The other three named as defendants were Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the Election Commission of Malaysia (EC).

As for Tengku Adnan, he must file his defence by Sept 15 while 1MDB and the EC must do so by Sept 14.

Meanwhile, when asked if the legal action filed was made through proper procedures, Mohad Hafarizam said the matter should have gone through the Election Court.

"Whatever questionable acts concerning election results or spending, need to undergo a different procedure which is the Election Court," he said.

On Aug 12, PKR had filed the suit against Najib for allegedly violating election laws following an expose by The Wall Street Journal that funds worth US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) had been deposited into his personal account.

Najib before this had said the money was never for his personal use and that the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission had clarified that the funds were campaign donations.

The plaintiffs comprises PKR's jailed de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, vice-president Batu MP Tian Chua, former secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and ex-PAS member, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The suit filed was filed at the KL High Court through lawyer Tommy Thomas.