Former state MIC Youth chief J Dhinagaran has been ordered by the Penang High Court to pay RM100,000 in damages to former Penang municipal (MPPP) councillor L Prem Anand in a defamation suit. 

“At last, I am vindicated of the corruption claims made against me by the MIC. I know there is a mole in the DAP working with the MIC to bring me down politically.

“I will lodge a formal complaint about this mole to Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow tomorrow,” said Prem, who is a DAP member.

The case was over an article published on an obscure Chinese language portal, which carried a photo of three MPPP councillors on Dec 21, 2012.

In his ruling today, judicial commissioner Lim Chong Fong said Dhinagaran had indeed made a defamatory statement against Prem.

He said Dhinagaran, who is now an MIC central committee member, had failed to establish the defence of justification.

“Names may not have been mentioned but there is sufficient evidence that the statement was about the plaintiff (Prem). Damages multiply if justification fails."

Lim then ordered Dhinagaran to pay Prem RM80,000 in general damages, RM20,000 in aggravated damages and RM40,000 in costs.

The trio claimed that Dhinagaran verbally implied that they had received bribes to legalise the woman’s business.

However, in his statement of defence, Dhinagaran said he had never specifically mentioned any councillor.

“My statements were thus incapable of referring to Prem Anand,” Dhinagaran had insisted.

Prem's lawyer Simon Murali was elated as his client’s reputation has been restored and cleared of corruption claims.

Dhinagaran’s counsel K Kumarathiraviam said he would consult his client on whether to appeal the court’s decision.