Indonesian model Manohara Odelia Pinot and her mother were ordered by the High Court here today to pay RM6 million in damages to her husband, Kelantan prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Sultan Ismail Petra ( below ), in a RM105 million defamation suit filed by the prince against them.

Senior assistant registrar Noordura Mohamed Din made the decision in chambers.

NONE The prince's counsel, Mohd Haaziq Pillay, told reporters that Noordura  awarded RM2 million for aggravated damages, RM2 million for exemplary damages, RM2 million for compensatory damages and interest of 8 percent from the date of the filing of the suit until the settlement of the quantum.

He said the court awarded the amount after taking into account the special circumstances of the case, the high standing of the prince and the seriousness of the allegations made by Manohara dan her mother, Daisy Fajarina, against him.

Judgment in default

In his suit filed on July 20, 2009, the Kelantan prince claimed that the two had falsely and maliciously defamed him in allegations they made at news conferences between April and June 2009 about Manohara being abused.

manohara odelia pinot malaysiakini interview 290609 06 On Nov 5, 2009, he obtained a judgment in default after the now-estranged Manohara and Daisy ( left ) failed to appoint a new counsel for the case after their initial lawyer discharged himself.

Following that, the court on Oct 29 gave Manohara and her mother until Nov 5 to appoint new counsel or risk judgment being issued in default.

On Jan 14 this year, Muhammad Fakhry testified in the court proceedings to determine the quantum of damages that should be awarded to him in the suit. 

The Kelantan Syariah High Court on Dec 13, ordered Manohara to be loyal and pay back RM1,112,250 to Muhammad Fakhry, the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan.

He had filed two summonses at the Kota Baharu Syariah court demanding that his wife return to him and return the amount which she owed him before and after the marriage.

   

Muhammad Fakhry, 32, and Manohara, 18, who holds the title Cik Puan Temenggong, married on Aug 26 2008, and lived in Istana Mahkota, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

Fled to Indonesia

Nine months after the wedding, Manohara suddenly fled to Indonesia without the permission or knowledge of the prince, the third prince of the Sultan of Kelantan.

Mohd Haaziq said the prince was very happy with today's court outcome.

Asked whether the order could be implemented on the pair, who were in Indonesia, the lawyer said it could not be enforced in Indonesia.

"They can ignore the order, but the plaintiff has a right to go to Indonesia to initiate proceedings against them," he said.

Mohd Haaziq said Muhammad Fakhry would be going to Indonesia to lodge a police report on criminal defamation and initiate a fresh civil action against Manohara and her mother.

"We have no choice. The other step is to go into the lion's den to get the lion. The plaintiff had decided to initiate punitive action in Indonesia after clearing his name," he said.

- Bernama