Blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, today paid opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim RM951,260.30 after being ordered to do so by a court, or risk being declared bankrupt.
Wan Azri lost a defamation suit filed by Anwar four years ago and paid the damages in a banker’s cheque and RM1 notes before High Court in Kuala Lumpur deputy registrar Husna Dzulkifli.
Calling it “one of the largest defamation suits paid out in this country,” Wan Azri (photo) paid RM950,000 of the amount in a banker’s cheque to the law firm Daim & Gamany, RM1,260 in RM1 notes, and the remaining amount in coins.
“It was supposed to be RM951,260.27, but I donated the remaining three sen,” he told reporters.
Wan Azri said it took three months for him to gather the funds, mostly from Umno members in Wangsa Maju, and from crowdfunding through his company Invoke Solutions.
“I accepted all amounts, even RM1, from anyone as they know me and how I work,” he said, adding that Anwar's lawyers did not initially want to accept a three- to six-month payment window.
Wan Azri also complained that Anwar's lawyers tried to seal his house and trouble his family when he did not pay the amount.
It was previously reported that his home would be repossessed and auctioned off after failing to to pay Anwar RM850,000 in damages.
Representing Wan Azri was his lawyer Irna Shahana Shamsudin, while Latheefa Koya and J Leela appeared for Anwar (photo).
Latheefa said she was surprised that Wan Azri could come up with the amount.
Anwar's lawyers filed the notice of bankruptcy on Wan Azri in April, while the petition for bankruptcy was filed two months later.
In 2013, Anwar filed a RM100 million defamation suit against Wan Azri over the publication of lewd images, said to be of him with another man.
A year later, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur found Wan Azri to have maliciously defamed Anwar, and awarded RM800,000 in damages.
The decision came just months after Papagomo’s identity was revealed in court, despite Wan Azri’s prior denials.
The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court last year.
It was previously reported that Wan Azri, formerly a traffic policeman, was sentenced to 14 days' jail and fined RM10,000 for taking a bribe.- Mkini
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