Tan Sri Tommy Thomas has responded to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s letter of demand seeking a public apology for allegedly defaming him in his recently released autobiography.
“Our client denies all material allegations in your letter. Furthermore, our client denies that he has committed the tort of defamation against your client, as alleged or at all,” he said in a letter of reply through his lawyers Tommy Thomas Advocates and Solicitors.
“We have instructions to accept service of process. All our client’s rights are reserved,” read the letter dated Feb 4 that was addressed to Najib’s lawyers Messrs Shafee & Co.
On Feb 2, Najib sent a letter through his solicitor to demand an apology and RM10mil in damages from Thomas over allegations against him in his book titled “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”.
In the letter, Najib also gave Thomas until noon on Feb 5 to provide a satisfactory reply, failing which legal proceedings will be started against him.
He also demanded an apology and an unequivocal public retraction of the alleged defamatory statement in chapter 42 under the title “Altantuya” in the book.
Najib also said that Thomas had conveyed by clear inference and innuendo the message that he was satisfied as the then Attorney-General and public prosecutor of the truthfulness of the allegations by two convicted persons that Najib was involved in directing them to murder Altantuya.
He added that the statement was clearly motivated by mala fide and principally done in Thomas’ selfish pursuit of seeking cheap publicity, fuelled by his ego, sensationalism and profiteering.
On Jan 31, Thomas released a 573-page memoir titled “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”.
The police said that 134 reports have so far been lodged against Thomas over his book, which contains allegations against many parties over various subjects. – The Star
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