Pay RM85,000 to Dr M, court orders Anwar
K KabilanPublished: Apr 17, 2001 4:10 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered jailed deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim to pay more than RM85,000 to the prime minister as costs for his failed defamation suit.
Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh said deputy registrar Rozilah Salleh ordered Anwar to pay RM85,284.80 to Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the former's RM100 million defamation suit was successfully struck out by the court.
Karpal said that Rozilah gave her decision in her chambers today after having heard submissions from both parties earlier.
Karpal said he will take instructions from Anwar on whether to appeal this ruling.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered jailed deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim to pay more than RM85,000 to the prime minister as costs for his failed defamation suit.
Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh said deputy registrar Rozilah Salleh ordered Anwar to pay RM85,284.80 to Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the former's RM100 million defamation suit was successfully struck out by the court.
Karpal said that Rozilah gave her decision in her chambers today after having heard submissions from both parties earlier.
Karpal said he will take instructions from Anwar on whether to appeal this ruling.
Anwar's suit was struck out by the High Court on Aug 30, 1999, as a preliminary issue without going for a full trial. On Dec 9 last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Anwar's bid to pursue the suit and upheld the High Court decision to strike it out.
The Court of Appeal held that Mahathir was sheltered by the defences of justification and qualified privileges. On Jan 23, the Federal Court dismissed Anwar's application for leave to appeal with costs.
Malicious intention
Anwar filed the suit in January 1999, claiming that Mahathir at a press conference had "falsely and maliciously accused him of committing an immoral act". He said that Mahathir knew his comments would be published locally and internationally.
In his statement of defence filed in March 1999, Mahathir contended that he spoke the words as prime minister on an occasion of qualified privilege. He said he made the remark in relation to Anwar's suitability for the office he held, and after due inquiry and investigation.
In his reply, Anwar said the defence of qualified privilege was not open to Mahathir because he had acted maliciously by uttering and causing the offending words to be published and republished.
Anwar was sacked from the government by Mahathir in September 1998 on the grounds of immorality.
In April 1999, Anwar was jailed for six years for abuse of power and in August last year was imprisoned nine years for sodomy, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Anwar has maintained that Mahathir orchestrated a conspiracy to frame him because he was seen as a political threat. The government has denied any plot, saying that Anwar received a fair trial.
Anwar's lawyer Karpal Singh said deputy registrar Rozilah Salleh ordered Anwar to pay RM85,284.80 to Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the former's RM100 million defamation suit was successfully struck out by the court.
Karpal said that Rozilah gave her decision in her chambers today after having heard submissions from both parties earlier.
Karpal said he will take instructions from Anwar on whether to appeal this ruling.
Anwar's suit was struck out by the High Court on Aug 30, 1999, as a preliminary issue without going for a full trial. On Dec 9 last year, the Court of Appeal dismissed Anwar's bid to pursue the suit and upheld the High Court decision to strike it out.
The Court of Appeal held that Mahathir was sheltered by the defences of justification and qualified privileges. On Jan 23, the Federal Court dismissed Anwar's application for leave to appeal with costs.
Malicious intention
Anwar filed the suit in January 1999, claiming that Mahathir at a press conference had "falsely and maliciously accused him of committing an immoral act". He said that Mahathir knew his comments would be published locally and internationally.
In his reply, Anwar said the defence of qualified privilege was not open to Mahathir because he had acted maliciously by uttering and causing the offending words to be published and republished.
Anwar was sacked from the government by Mahathir in September 1998 on the grounds of immorality.
In April 1999, Anwar was jailed for six years for abuse of power and in August last year was imprisoned nine years for sodomy, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Anwar has maintained that Mahathir orchestrated a conspiracy to frame him because he was seen as a political threat. The government has denied any plot, saying that Anwar received a fair trial.
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