Two lieutanant colonels allowed to amend their statement of claim

(The Star) - The Court of Appeal on Wednesday allowed two lieutenant colonels to amend their statement of claim in a defamation suit filed against blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin.

A three-member bench presided by Court of Appeal judges Datuk Ramly Ali, Datuk Mohtarudin Baki and High Court judge Datuk David Wong Dak Wah unanimously allowed the appeal by Lt Col Abdul Aziz Buyong and Lt Col Norhayati Hassan to reverse the decision of a Kuala Lumpur High Court, which disallowed them to make amendments to their statement of claim.

Justice Ramly ordered them to file their amended statement of claim within 14 days from Wednesday and also gave Raja Petra the liberty to file his amended statement of defence within 14 days from the date of receiving the amended statement of claim.

Lt Col Abdul Aziz and Lt Col Norhayati filed the legal suit in 2008 against Raja Petra, alleging that the blogger had made a statutory declaration implicating them and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

They alleged that Raja Petra's declaration made on June 18, 2008, contained defamatory elements.

They each sought RM1mil in damages from Raja Petra as well as exemplary damages and an injunction to prevent him or his employees from repeating the defamatory remarks.

On Sept 18, last year, the High Court dismissed their application to amend their statement of claim.

Lt Col Abdul Aziz and Lt Col Norhayati sought to make amendments to their statement of claim to include certain new facts.

The High Court had fixed three days beginning from Jan 21, this year for hearing of their suit.

The duo was represented by lawyer Sugandra Rao Naidu while Raja Petra was represented by lawyer J. Chandra.