Blogger files new striking-out application
Soon Li TsinPublished: Apr 24, 2007 12:22 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Blogger Jeff Ooi's legal team filed a new striking-out application this morning against the amended claims against him by New Straits Times Press Bhd (NSTP).
A fresh application has been made by blogger Jeff Ooi's lawyers to strike out the amended claims by New Straits Times Press against him.
Blogger Jeff Ooi's legal team filed a new striking-out application this morning against the amended claims against him by New Straits Times Press Bhd (NSTP).
Lawyers Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and N Balan told reporters at the new court complex in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, that the amended claims were still unclear.
"It's very much like the first striking-out application which we filed (in January). We want to strike out the amended claims because it is still not very clear," Malik said.
In February, NSTP amended the statement of claims after Ooi's counsel argued that the trial was akin to a 'fishing expedition'.
The first striking-out application states that the suit filed by NSTP failed to specify which of the allegedly defamatory posts refer to which of the plaintiffs, and that this would affect the defence arguments.
The meeting between Ooi and NSTP's lawyers were held in Justice Abdul Malik Ishak's chambers.
It was decided that the first striking-out application by Ooi would be withdrawn with no orders as to costs and the date to heard the new striking-out application will be determined soon.
Meanwhile, the interim injunction that resulted in the Screenshots blogger having to keep 13 allegedly defamatory postings off his blog still stands.
The plaintiffs were represented by Rishwant Singh. In January, NSTP filed suits against Ooi over items published on his website last year, which criticised the newspaper and the government.
The suit against him named NSTP deputy chairperson Kalimullah Hassan, group editor-in-chief Hishamudin Aun and former group editor Brenden Pereira as plaintiffs.
On April 4, Malik made an application to the civil high court to merge the action with NSTP's suit against another blogger, Ahirudin Attan (photo), since their postings are "substantially the same."
He said consolidating the cases would prevent the need for separate trials and the consequent risk of inconsistent judgements.
The hearing is set for June 19.
Ahirudin who blogs at Rocky's Bru is being sued by Kalimullah, chief executive officer Syed Faisal Albar, Hishamudin and Pereira.
Lawyers Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and N Balan told reporters at the new court complex in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, that the amended claims were still unclear. "It's very much like the first striking-out application which we filed (in January). We want to strike out the amended claims because it is still not very clear," Malik said.
In February, NSTP amended the statement of claims after Ooi's counsel argued that the trial was akin to a 'fishing expedition'.
The first striking-out application states that the suit filed by NSTP failed to specify which of the allegedly defamatory posts refer to which of the plaintiffs, and that this would affect the defence arguments.
The meeting between Ooi and NSTP's lawyers were held in Justice Abdul Malik Ishak's chambers.
It was decided that the first striking-out application by Ooi would be withdrawn with no orders as to costs and the date to heard the new striking-out application will be determined soon. Meanwhile, the interim injunction that resulted in the Screenshots blogger having to keep 13 allegedly defamatory postings off his blog still stands.
The plaintiffs were represented by Rishwant Singh. In January, NSTP filed suits against Ooi over items published on his website last year, which criticised the newspaper and the government.
The suit against him named NSTP deputy chairperson Kalimullah Hassan, group editor-in-chief Hishamudin Aun and former group editor Brenden Pereira as plaintiffs.
On April 4, Malik made an application to the civil high court to merge the action with NSTP's suit against another blogger, Ahirudin Attan (photo), since their postings are "substantially the same." He said consolidating the cases would prevent the need for separate trials and the consequent risk of inconsistent judgements.
The hearing is set for June 19.
Ahirudin who blogs at Rocky's Bru is being sued by Kalimullah, chief executive officer Syed Faisal Albar, Hishamudin and Pereira.
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