Did the former AG mislead the court about the royal addendum?

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Former Attorney General Accused of Misleading Court Regarding Royal Addendum for House Arrest

Datuk Seri Najib Razak has initiated legal proceedings seeking leave to commence committal proceedings against former attorney general Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, alleging contempt of court. The application, filed on May 21, 2025, contends that Ahmad Terrirudin failed to act upon a royal Addendum Order, purportedly directing Najib to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest. Najib's legal team asserts that Ahmad Terrirudin misled the High Court by mischaracterising this Addendum Order as speculative and hearsay, thereby withholding crucial information from the court.
Allegations of Concealing Material Facts

The core of Najib's application centres on the claim that Ahmad Terrirudin deliberately misled the High Court. The Addendum Order, dated January 29, 2024, was reportedly delivered to Najib via his son and its authenticity was subsequently confirmed by the Pahang Royal Council in a letter dated January 4, 2025. Najib's legal team argues that the former AG possessed direct knowledge of this order, as suggested by its contents which were personally addressed to him in his capacity as Attorney General at the time, and that his subsequent characterisation of it as speculative constituted a concealment of material facts.
Duty of Candour and Obstruction of Justice

Najib's legal representatives contend that as a public officer, Ahmad Terrirudin owed a paramount duty of candour to the court. They cite legal precedents that mandate the government to present all pertinent information during judicial reviews. By allegedly misrepresenting the Addendum Order, Ahmad Terrirudin's actions are argued to have undermined public confidence in the judiciary and amounted to an obstruction of justice.
Current Position and Legal Ramifications

Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh currently holds the position of a Federal Court judge. Given this significant judicial role, Najib's lawyers have highlighted the critical need for Ahmad Terrirudin to be afforded an opportunity to respond to these allegations and, if necessary, to purge any contempt. The legal team has also urged the public and media to refrain from speculation and to allow the judicial process to unfold. In February 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by the Pahang Ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah, reduced Najib's sentence from his SRC International trial conviction by half, to six years, following which Najib claimed the existence of the "royal addendum" for house arrest.

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Did the former AG mislead the court about the royal addendum?

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