KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court has ordered Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim and blogger Amizudin Ahmat to file their respective witness statements by July 1.
High Court judge Justice Zabariah Mohd Yusof ordered both parties to file the witness statements for the hearing proper of the defamation suit scheduled to begin July 4 for three days. Dr Rais is expected to testify on July 4.
The judge made the order after meeting Dr Rais' lawyer Azad Bashir and counsel C.W. Gan who acted for the blogger.
Speaking to the media, Azad said Dr Rais has filed, among others, on agreed issues to be determined by the court.
He said the parties had also filed agreed facts over the suit.
Dr Rais filed a lawsuit against Amizudin on Jan 31, saying that the blogger, known Din Binjai had published or caused to be published adefamatory article under the heading “Hei Pak Menteri...mana maulari...” (“Hey, Mr Minister...where do you want to run to) in his blog on Dec 28, last year.
In his statement of claim, Dr Rais said the article with hisphotograph was prominently displayed athttp://sharpshooterblogger.blogspot.com/2010/12/hei-pak-menteri-mana-mau-lari.htmlcontaining false and malicious words of him.
In his suit, Dr Rais claimed that the words meant that he was guilty of raping his Indonesian maid and capable of murdering her to conceal evidence over the alleged rape.
Dr Rais is seeking for damages, interests, costs and any further relief deemed fit by the court.
- The Star
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.