Lawyer N Surendran has been disqualified from representing Anwar Ibrahim in his RM100 million defamation suit against TV3 and Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd in relation to reports on the Lahad Datu incursion.
In the High Court in Kuala Lunpur this morning, Judicial Commissioner Rosilah Yop ruled there would be conflict of interest as Surendran is a vice-president of PKR, while Anwar is the party's de facto leader.
Rosilah allowed Utusan’s preliminary objection against allowing the law firm of Daim and Gamany to represent Anwar.
However, Surendran has indicated that he would file an appeal.
Lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan is now likely to act for Anwar during the proceedings, which are due to start on April 14.
The legal suit arises from reports connecting Anwar to the intrusion by Sulu gunmen into Lahad Datu, Sabah, early last year.
Utusan, which was represented by Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, wanted Surendran to be removed in representing Anwar due to conflict of interest as well as Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah, as he was summoned as the defendant's witness.
Anwar had named Utusan, its group editor-in-chief Abdul Aziz Ishak, Sistem Televisyen Mlaaysia Berhad (TV3), its group managing editor Shahruddin Abdul Latif and Buletin Utama news editor Ing Boon Seng, in the suit for linking the opposition leader to the Lahad Datu incursion.
However, the defendants in their statements of defence denied the claim, saying they took reasonable care in the publication and putting up of the news report on air, adding that they exercised responsible journalism.
In the High Court in Kuala Lunpur this morning, Judicial Commissioner Rosilah Yop ruled there would be conflict of interest as Surendran is a vice-president of PKR, while Anwar is the party's de facto leader.
Rosilah allowed Utusan’s preliminary objection against allowing the law firm of Daim and Gamany to represent Anwar.
However, Surendran has indicated that he would file an appeal.
Lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan is now likely to act for Anwar during the proceedings, which are due to start on April 14.
The legal suit arises from reports connecting Anwar to the intrusion by Sulu gunmen into Lahad Datu, Sabah, early last year.
Utusan, which was represented by Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, wanted Surendran to be removed in representing Anwar due to conflict of interest as well as Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah, as he was summoned as the defendant's witness.
Anwar had named Utusan, its group editor-in-chief Abdul Aziz Ishak, Sistem Televisyen Mlaaysia Berhad (TV3), its group managing editor Shahruddin Abdul Latif and Buletin Utama news editor Ing Boon Seng, in the suit for linking the opposition leader to the Lahad Datu incursion.
However, the defendants in their statements of defence denied the claim, saying they took reasonable care in the publication and putting up of the news report on air, adding that they exercised responsible journalism.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.