Controversial carpet businessman Deepak Jaikishin is looking into the possibility of settling his multi-billion defamation suit against former Bank Rakyat chairperson Sabaruddin Chik and author Shahbudin Husin.
This follows his appointment of a new lawyer to represent him in the case where Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera has fixed further case management to this Friday
Lawyer Adnan Seman@Abdullah said this happened during case management of the case today where Deepak and his new lawyer AK Sharma were present.
He said Deepak had been ordered by the court to file a bundle of documents and agreed facts since last Thursday but has not done so.
Today, Adnan said he needed time as he had just appointed Sharma and was considering to settle the matter.
"Following this, the court today fixed Friday as case management. It also fixed three days beginning Dec 7 for trial if there is no settlement.
"But Deepak will have to file his documents first," he said.
Deepak, when met, refused to divulge details on what transpired but said he will probably issue a statement.
It was reported that Deepak filed the suit following the publication of the book 'Membongkar Skandal Deepak & Bank Rakyat - dari hati Sabaruddin Chik' as he claimed it was defamatory.
Deepak, who is director in 50 companies, had said the book claimed he had conspired with the then-domestic trade, consumer affairs and cooperatives minister, the prime minister or his wife or the Bank Rakyat directors to get a loan, that he is untrustworthy, that no one could have business with him and that he is controversial entrepreneur.
The book also implied that he has a scandal, painting a picture that he is a criminal, corrupt and untrustworthy.
Giving 10 percent discount
Deepak, who contacted Malaysiakini just a short while ago, said yes, indeed he is willing to settle the suit on the grounds that he is giving a 10 percent discount to the total of RM1.1 billion he is seeking.
“I will write to the defendants today and am willing to settle if they pay RM1 billion, which is a discount of 10 percent given as a condition. If not we go for hearing,” he said.
Adnan also told reporters after meeting in chambers that Deepak wanted to meet his clients.
The suit is over allegations that Sabaruddin, formerly culture and tourism minister, and Bank Rakyat made that they wanted to take action on Deepak for not being able to service the loan he took but allegedly then-domestic trade, consumer affairs and cooperatives minister Hasan Malek had intervened.
The defendants pleaded qualified privilege and justification in their defence statement.
Sabaruddin in his defence statement said the bank wanted to take action on Deepak and his company Carpet Tile Sdn Bhd over a defective RM32.269 million loan they had taken.
The former Bank Rakyat chairperson claimed there was a meeting between Deepak and Hasan where the minister through a letter dated Jan 30, 2014, had asked the bank’s board of directors to defer action on the carpet businessman.
With the discussion, it was agreed that Bank Rakyat would postpone legal action and that Deepak would pay the RM3.2 million through 120 post-dated cheques to a total payment of RM32.4 million beginning January 2014.
However, Sabaruddin and the Bank Rakyat board had on Feb 27 disagreed with the proposal as this would mean the bank would lose RM13 million in future revenue, and RM1.6 million in penalty for late payments. -Mkini
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