A former murder suspect is demanding RM22 million in damages as well as unqualified apologies from five local dailies and their respective editors for publishing his photograph and 'portraying' him as a prime suspect in the Noritta Samsudin murder case last year.

Mikko Kauko Johannes Jarva, who is from Finland and a product marketing manager of a local communications company, made the demands in the defamation suits he filed with the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

He named New Straits Times , its publisher New Straits Times Sdn Bhd and former group chief editor Abdullah Ahmad ( photo ), The Malay Mail and its editor Ahiruddin Atan, Berita Harian and its editor Hishamuddin Aun, Harian Metro and its editor Mohd Zian Johari and Utusan Melayu and its editor Mohd Khalid Mohd as defendants.

In a statement of claim, Mikko said the media totally disregarded the fundamental legal presumption of "innocent until proven guilty by court" and the irresponsible reporting made him "a victim of trial and conviction by the media".

He said the defendants had, without regards to his claim of innocence, acted "negligently, recklessly and irresponsibly" by publishing his photographs and articles depicting him as the perpetrator of the crime.

'False, frivolous, vexatious'

He said the articles published during his five-day police remand (when he had no opportunity to exonerate himself) insinuated that he was guilty of committing the crime despite the fact that he was not formally charged.

"The articles published are untrue, false, frivolous, vexatious and devoid of substance as the plaintiff (Mikko) was eventually not indicted by the police due to his innocence - in which case, at that stage (arrest and remand period) his identity ought to have been protected and concealed," read the statement.

Mikko also claimed that the distorted facts were published by the defendants in "their unprofessional pursuit of seeking cheap publicity, sensationalism and to boost the sales of their newspapers".

He also claimed that as a result of the articles, friends and the public still viewed him with suspicion.

"The negative impact and the sting of publications is phenomenal and most intolerable and it continued as the plaintiff still attracts much unwarranted stares and murmurings from the public as he goes about his daily work and social life," added the statement.

Mikko, who is being represented by lawyer Sankara Nair, said the defendants had acted unfairly when his release from remand was not given the same prominence which his arrest and detention received.

Disrespectful caption

The Finnish national had also listed all the articles published between Dec 13 and Dec 19, 2003, which he claimed were defamatory.

However, he stressed that an article published by the Malay Mail on Dec 13, 2003 which carried his photograph and the caption 'Far from Finn-ished' was especially derogatory as it disrespected his country.

Besides aggravated and exemplary damages, he is also seeking an injunction to restrain the 11 defendants from writing, printing and publishing any more defamatory articles and photographs of him.

This is the second defamation suit filed against the 11 who face a similar court action brought by financial broker Shahfrul Azman @ Alang who is also demanding RM2 million from each defendant.

Shahrul was among 10 picked up in connection with the rape and murder of the 24-year-old company executive on Dec 5. Engineer Hanif Basree was eventually charged with the crime while the rest were freed.