Thomas fails to recuse judge in Shahrir defamation suit

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed an application by former attorney general (AG) Tommy Thomas to recuse Judge Roz Mawar Rozain from hearing a defamation suit against him.

The suit, filed by former Umno minister Shahrir Ab Samad against Thomas and three others, was over alleged malicious prosecution.

In making the decision, Roz Mawar said an unhealthy trend had emerged of litigants seeking to recuse judges from hearing their cases which is capable of eroding public confidence in the judiciary.

“A litigant is entitled to apply to recuse a judge but it must be made after considering the harm that it may impose on the integrity of the judiciary and to the administration of justice.

“To my mind, the cavalier manner in which the recusal applications were filed and the grounds relied upon were so frivolous and flimsy, and if I may say so, even disrespectful, that the entire application borders on contempt of court,” she said.

Roz Mawar also awarded costs of RM20,000 to Shahrir and set March 4 to hear Thomas’ application to stay proceedings of the trial pending the outcome of his appeal in the Court of Appeal.

Lawyer Alan Adrian Gomez represented Thomas (above), while Shahrir was represented by lawyers Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah and Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin.

Thomas filed the application on Aug 26 last year, claiming that Roz Mawar had made numerous baseless findings and contradictory statements to the claims in the lawsuit and the evidence presented in court.

However, Shahrir objected to the application, arguing that the judge should not recuse herself simply because Thomas was dissatisfied with her reasoning.

On July 3 last year, Roz Mawar dismissed Thomas’ application to strike out the lawsuit, and the case was scheduled for a full hearing over seven days, from March 9-12 and April 27-29, 2026.

Shahrir, a former Johor Bahru MP, filed the lawsuit in December 2023, naming Thomas, former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, the MACC, and the government as defendants.

RM1 million cheque

Shahrir’s lawsuit concerns an RM1 million cheque he received from former prime minister Najib Razak for restoration work on the Puri Langkasuka housing project in Larkin, Johor.

Thomas, who served as AG from June 4, 2018, to Feb 28, 2020, refuted Shahrir’s allegations of abuse of power, describing them as “unsustainable”.

He stated that the discretion to charge could only be exercised after the AG receives the investigation papers from agencies like the MACC.

Thomas further explained that he resigned on Feb 28, 2020, and that Shahrir’s criminal trial for the charges began on July 26, 2022.

On Jan 5, 2023, High Court Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin acquitted Shahrir on the charge of failing to declare the RM1 million income received from Najib to the Inland Revenue Board.

- Bernama

Nov 6 hearing for Thomas' application to recuse judge

Court bins Tommy Thomas’ attempt to strike out Shahrir’s suit

Shahrir's suit frivolous, driven by personal vendetta, says ex-AG

Shahrir sues Thomas, Latheefa, govt for 'malicious prosecution'