The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ruled that Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris is indeed the pro-Umno blogger Papagomo.
Besides ordering him to pay RM500,000 in a defamation claim, Judicial Commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera is also moving him for contempt for another posting 'Justice for sale', which implicated the presiding judge and is considered prejudicial to the judiciary.
Wan Muhammad Azri (right) had previously denied that he was the controversial blogger.
Justice Vazeer called the 30-year-old blogger a liar as despite the denial made on the stand, Wan Muhammad Azri had, in his defence statement, admitted that he is he one when pleading the defence of fair comment.
The blogger was not remorseful of his actions as this was displayed in the defamation trial, the judge ruled.
In addition, a blogger, testifying as a witness during the trial admitted to recognising Wan Muhammad Azri as Papagomo when they met at a bloggers conference in 2009.
According to The Star Online today, Justice Vazeer therefore ruled that Wan Muhammad Azri (above, right) was Papagomo as named in the RM10 million defamation suit filed by businessman Abdul Razak Mohd Noor.
The court ordered him to pay RM200,000 in general damages, RM300,000 in exemplary damages and RM50,000 costs.
Abdul Razak sued Papagomo for a posting alleging the former had earned millions of ringgit from the Commonwealth Games.
He said the blogger's posting on Dec 11, 2011, as well as that of another blogger Parpukari through a blog posting on Dec 4 and Dec 12, 2011, had defamed him, affecting his reputation.
His lawyer, Reuben Netto, had then claimed that this affected the reputation of his client, who holds telecommunications licences relating to broadband and satellite services in partnership with Telekom Malaysia Bhd.
Contempt proceedings on Oct 21
Reuben, when contacted by Malaysiakini, confirmed the court judgment today and said the judge had rejected Wan Muhammad Azri's defence of fair comment.
“The biggest thing is the court recognised that Wan Muhammad Azri as Papagomo,” he said.
In addition, Reuben said, the court had granted leave in their application to cite Wan Muhamman Azri for contempt over the other article in his blog posting.
“Hence, the contempt proceeding against him will proceed on Oct 21,” he said, adding this case is not about getting damages but restoring his client's credibility and pinpointing Papagomo's identify.
Besides Abdul Razak, PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and strategic director Rafizi Ramli have also filed defamation suits against Papagomo.
Others who have pending suits against him include PAS vice-president Husam Musa and DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
The infamous blogger is a former policeman who served eight months jail for a corruption conviction.
In the run up to the 13th general election it was also reported that Wan Muhammad Azri was a phantom voter, registered separately with his police and civilian ICs.
Wan Muhammad Azri (right) had previously denied that he was the controversial blogger.Justice Vazeer called the 30-year-old blogger a liar as despite the denial made on the stand, Wan Muhammad Azri had, in his defence statement, admitted that he is he one when pleading the defence of fair comment.
The blogger was not remorseful of his actions as this was displayed in the defamation trial, the judge ruled.
In addition, a blogger, testifying as a witness during the trial admitted to recognising Wan Muhammad Azri as Papagomo when they met at a bloggers conference in 2009.
According to The Star Online today, Justice Vazeer therefore ruled that Wan Muhammad Azri (above, right) was Papagomo as named in the RM10 million defamation suit filed by businessman Abdul Razak Mohd Noor.
The court ordered him to pay RM200,000 in general damages, RM300,000 in exemplary damages and RM50,000 costs.
Abdul Razak sued Papagomo for a posting alleging the former had earned millions of ringgit from the Commonwealth Games.
He said the blogger's posting on Dec 11, 2011, as well as that of another blogger Parpukari through a blog posting on Dec 4 and Dec 12, 2011, had defamed him, affecting his reputation.
His lawyer, Reuben Netto, had then claimed that this affected the reputation of his client, who holds telecommunications licences relating to broadband and satellite services in partnership with Telekom Malaysia Bhd.
Contempt proceedings on Oct 21
Reuben, when contacted by Malaysiakini, confirmed the court judgment today and said the judge had rejected Wan Muhammad Azri's defence of fair comment.
“The biggest thing is the court recognised that Wan Muhammad Azri as Papagomo,” he said.
In addition, Reuben said, the court had granted leave in their application to cite Wan Muhamman Azri for contempt over the other article in his blog posting.“Hence, the contempt proceeding against him will proceed on Oct 21,” he said, adding this case is not about getting damages but restoring his client's credibility and pinpointing Papagomo's identify.
Besides Abdul Razak, PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and strategic director Rafizi Ramli have also filed defamation suits against Papagomo.
Others who have pending suits against him include PAS vice-president Husam Musa and DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
The infamous blogger is a former policeman who served eight months jail for a corruption conviction.
In the run up to the 13th general election it was also reported that Wan Muhammad Azri was a phantom voter, registered separately with his police and civilian ICs.
Malik Imtiaz Sarwar appeared with Reuben Netto and Paveendeep Singh for Abdul Razak while Jasbeer Singh represented Papagomo.
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