Lokman, Ismail Sabri embark on potential settlement talks: Lawyers

Communication has been initiated between former Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam and party vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob for potential settlement talks in a defamation suit, their lawyers confirmed.

However, both parties’ legal teams explained that there is nothing in writing or concrete yet for a settlement as the matter is still in the early stage.

Counsel S Suresh, who is acting for defendant Lokman (above, right), confirmed the initiation of communication between his client and plaintiff Ismail Sabri (above, left) directly without the involvement of lawyers.

“There is potential (for a settlement) but we do not have instructions yet (in relation to the ongoing civil action).

“It (talks) is now among themselves (Lokman and Ismail Sabri directly) and we give them time to sort it out.

“Let parties talk among themselves and we can take it from there,” Suresh said when contacted by the media.

When contacted today, Ismail Sabri’s counsel Joshua Tan confirmed the initiation of communication between Lokman and the plaintiff over potential talks for a settlement.

Nothing concrete in writing

Tan, however, reiterated that there is nothing concrete in writing yet for an actual settlement.

Both Suresh and Tan confirmed that today’s initially scheduled hearing of Ismail Sabri’s inter-partes injunction bid against Lokman has been postponed to Jan 5 next year.

Under the law, an inter-partes hearing is where both sides, in this case, Ismail Sabri and Lokman’s legal team, would present submissions to the court on whether the injunction should be allowed, pending the disposal of the main civil action.

The main defamation suit is over an Aug 22 Facebook posting that allegedly contained several claims, among them that Ismail Sabri purportedly met former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court previously allowed an application by Ismail Sabri for an interim injunction for Lokman to take down the post.

The injunction was sought to maintain the status quo between Ismail Sabri and Lokman, pending the disposal of the defamation suit. - Mkini