Defamation: Ramasamy pays RM1.52m to Zakir Naik

 

P Ramasamy has paid RM1.52 million to Zakir Naik as part of the Islamic preacher’s defamation suit against the former DAP leader.

The Indian national’s counsel, Akberdin Abdul Kader, confirmed that the former Penang deputy chief minister made the transfer on Nov 17.

“The money has been paid on Nov 17,” Akberdin told the media today, adding that the funds are now being held in the client account maintained by the law firm acting for Zakir (above, left).

The lawyer added that if the Court of Appeal later dismisses Ramasamy’s appeal against the entire defamation ruling, then the RM1.52 million can be transferred to plaintiff Zakir.

Back on Nov 2, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Ramasamy had defamed the controversial preacher and ordered the defendant to pay RM1.45 million in damages and RM70,000 in costs to the plaintiff.

The amount comprised RM1 million for general damages, RM100,000 for compensatory damages, RM100,000 for aggravated damages, and RM250,000 for exemplary damages.

Judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz also ordered Ramasany to make a public apology to Zakir.

Some sort of compromise

While having filed an appeal to the Court of Appeal against the entire defamation ruling, Ramasamy succeeded in a crowdfunding initiative to raise the RM1.52 million amount.

Meanwhile, during open-court proceedings before Hayatul earlier today, Ramasamy’s counsel Razlan Hadri informed the civil court that his client is withdrawing a bid to stay the ruling for the apology, pending disposal of the appeal.

“Parties have come to some sort of compromise and we (Ramasamy) would like to withdraw both enclosures (stay on apology) with no order as to costs,” Razlan said.

Akberdin then confirmed with the court about the matter. However, the terms for the withdrawal remained confidential.

In 2019, Zakir filed two separate suits against Ramasamy over the latter’s public statements: one linked to the preacher’s controversial ceramah in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on Aug 8, 2019, and the other about the 2019 mass arrests linked to alleged attempts to revive the defunct militant group Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE). - Mkini