Sultan’s lawyer withdraws RM10m suit
KUALA LUMPUR: A RM10 million defamation suit by a lawyer of Sultan of Johor against a former newspaper photographer was withdrawn by the plaintiff in the High Court yesterday. A RM100 million counterclaim against the plaintiff was also withdrawn by the defendant.
Lawyer Kamal Hisham Jaafar, 42, had sued Mohamed Ali Ismail, 46, over a letter the defendant allegedly wrote and delivered to the plaintiff’s client, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhom Sultan Iskandar.
The suit’s statement of claim alleged that the letter contained false allegation, accusing Kamal of collusion with three others to cheat the sultan over several motor vehicle registration number plates.
Kamal had sought RM5 million in general damages, RM5 million in exemplary damages, an injunction restraining Ali from distributing the letter, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
The suit was filed at the Johor Baru High Court on March 7, 2011.
Ali then filed a RM100 million counterclaim, alleging that Kamal wrote several letters defaming him and were delivered to various government departments and the media. The counterclaim stated the letters contained allegations that he tried to tarnish the cordial relationship between Kamal and the state royal family.
Judge Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof allowed the parties’ applications to retract the suits with liberty to re-file them. However, she made no order as to the cost of the proceedings.
Source: The New Straits Times
Published: Friday, April 6, 2012
THE CHAMBERS OF LEE & CHONG 