Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob claimed that he had a contingency fees agreement with his lawyers Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Americk Singh for representing him in a defamation suit against Utusan Malaysia.
He told Malaysiakini that the lawyers had agreed to a 50-50 split of the damages awarded if the menteri besar won the case.
However, Adnan said despite this, the lawyers had billed him for more than RM200,000 in legal fees, which he paid.
"The matter was supposed to go on appeal. But the case was settled outside of court," he added.
Following this, Adnan said the lawyers had slapped him with another bill of more than RM200,000.
The menteri besar stressed that he was not running away from the issue but chose to fight this matter out in court for the sake of public interest.
“My lawyers have offered to deposit the total fees claimed in court in all sincerity. I am not going to run away from paying but I am not going to be politically 'blackmailed' into paying.
"The fee demanded of me is exorbitant and unreasonable for a defamation suit that was settled. Half a million ringgit in fees is unacceptable.
"Such costly fees would deter other litigants from seeking justice," he added.
Therefore, Adnan said he felt compelled to challenge the matter in order to bring this legal hurdle to justice to the people's attention.
"Such exorbitant legal fees would hinder ordinary people from pursuing justice. It is said that justice delayed is justice denied. But unaffordable justice is also justice denied.
"I am fighting for the layperson and bringing attention to this injustice of 'expensive justice'. Justice cannot be a luxury which only the rich can afford," he added.
Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that Manjeet and Americk filed a suit against Adnan for unpaid legal fees totalling RM214,825.
The duo filed their suit with the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court in January and the hearing has been fixed for April 26. - Mkini
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