Zahid Hamidi ordered to answer to civil suit for assault

March 15, 2012

Zahid was accused of hitting the businessman in the face in 2006. — File pic

PUTRAJAYA, March 15 — Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s application to strike out a civil suit for alleged assault was today dismissed by Court of Appeal, which instructed the defence minister to respond to the action filed by a businessman.

According to Bernama Online, a three-judge panel that included Datin Paduka Zaleha Zahari, Datuk Clement Allan Skinner and Datuk Aziah Ali unanimously ruled against Zahid’s bid as well as ordering him to pay RM5,000 in costs.

Businessman Amir Abdullah Bazli had on January 16, 2006 filed the claim against Zahid for allegedly striking him on the face.

The minister had denied the allegation and applied to the Kuala Lumpur High Court for the case to be thrown out. The application was dismissed by the same court on April 21, 2010.

In response, Zahid filed a countersuit against the 41-year-old, claiming to have suffered humiliation and emotional trauma as a result of the accusation.

The minister further alleged of libel within media reports of the incident.