Bahri and wife issue demand letter to sister-in-law

Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) special operations division director Bahri Mohd Zin and his wife have sent a notice of demand to Noraihan Che Ali to retract her statement against them, made at a press conference last month, or risk facing a defamation suit.

The notice was sent by the firm of Haniff Khatri to Noraihan Che Ali yesterday, giving her 10 days to retract and apologise for her allegations at the Jan 20 press conference at a hotel in Subang Jaya, which Bahri and his wife claimed were slanderous and defamatory.

In the notice, Bahri and his wife Noor Haslina Abdullah claimed the statements by Noraihan, who was married to Noor Haslina's brother, were wrong in law and had affected their reputation.

“As a result of your statements, my clients are facing pressure and shame that resulted in problems to them and their family,” the 11-page demand letter states.

Noraihan's assertions implied they were prepared to violate the law to prevent her rights or that of her child, that they conspired to use Bahri's position and the MACC to conduct a raid on her house and seize documents, that they are untrustworthy and irresponsible, as well as that they conspired to get shares from Noraihan's late husband.

Her statement also implied that Bahri abused his position as the MACC director of special operations for his personal interests with regard to the assets and wealth left behind by Noraihan's late husband, Muhammad Zamly Abdullah.

Following that, the two want Noraihan to retract the statements she made in the press conference, pen a written apology and promise not to repeat such statements.

Bahri and his wife also want Noraihan to hold a special press conference to apologise to them.

Failing which, the couple would sue her for defamation, seek RM1 million in damages and an additional RM50,000 as costs.

It was previously reported that Noraihan had accused Bahri of abuse of power with regard to a tussle over family assets as the MACC's special operations division was responsible in raiding her house in January last year and seizing several documents. She is also the director of Kolej Islam Sains dan Teknologi (Kist).

As a result, Noraihan has lodged a police report against Bahri and the MACC

Bahri has denied the claim and has lodged a police report against Noraihan.

The former MACC special operations division director grabbed headlines last month when he revealed that he opted for early retirement due to dissatisfaction with the manner in which the SRC International Sdn Bhd case was handled.- Mkini