Former Rural Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today has settled his defamation suit against Sabah Publishing House Sdn Bhd which publishes the Daily Express.
The Umno vice-president had filed the suit over three articles in the Daily Express which alleged that turtle eggs were served to him at an Umno function in Sabah in 2015.
The settlement of the case was disclosed by Sabah Publishing House's lawyer Bhag Singh. However, he declined to divulge any details.
"The matter has been amicably resolved," he told reporters after meeting Judicial Commissioner Darryl Goon in chambers.
When asked about his client’s appeal to the Federal Court, Bhag said he would speak later on the matter.
The senior lawyer also declined to reveal as to whether costs were paid.
Lawyer Samsinaralia Sahar appeared for Ismail.
Ismail filed the suit against Sabah Publishing House and Daily Express editor James Sarda.
The Bera MP filed the suit in March last year, where he, among others, claimed that the articles implied that he was evading responsibility and had no respect for the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1967.
The three articles appeared between Jan 24 and Sept 9 in 2015.
Ismail, claimed that the reports have an ordinary meaning and inferred that he was evading responsibility, had no respect for the rule of law and complete disregard for the investigation process.
He complained that the Sabah-based media continued to publish the articles without seeking his comments or views.
Ismail alleged that the media did not bother to seek confirmation from relevant government departments as to whether he refused to be questioned or to cooperate with the investigators.
He was seeking RM10 million in compensatory damages, along with aggravated, exemplary damages and an injunction barring the Sabah Publishing House from repeating the defamatory words.
Sabah Publishing House, in its defence, claimed that the articles published were not wrong and denied that it acted in bad faith and challenged Ismail to provide proof of his allegations.
It further denied that it had published the articles without seeking Ismail's comments and that the reports were without verification from the government departments.
The company further denied that the articles were libellous or affected Ismail's personal and political reputation and standing in society.
The publisher also tried to strike out the suit on the grounds that it should be filed with the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak.
However, it failed to do so, resulting in an appeal to the Court of Appeal. At the appellate court, the court ordered the suit be heard in Kuala Lumpur High Court but directed the lawyers appearing for the former minister to amend the statement of claim.
As a result, the company's appeal is still pending at the apex court. - Mkini
Yeeeee Haaaaa. What political reputation ? Do you have one? How can you sit at a table full of turtle eggs served and your reason was i dont know turtle eggs is under wildlife conservation act. So umno dna. Just claimed ignorant.
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