The Sessions Court here today ordered a businesswoman to pay RM25,000 in special damages to Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al-Masrie.

Judge Noridah Adam made the order after allowing a counter-claim by the national astronaut against a suit filed by Norlina Nordin three years ago.

She made the ruling after hearing submissions from both parties. Sheikh Muszaphar was represented by Dzaki Ezhar Bahar, while Norlina was represented by Nasaruddin Abdul Manaf.

muszaphar shukor 101007posing Yesterday, the court allowed, with costs at RM5,000, an application by Sheikh Muszaphar ( right ) to strike out the suit filed by Norlina, who was his former personal assistant.

In the suit filed on July 25, 2008, Norlina claimed she had suffered financial losses due to a breach of contract by way of appointment and sought more than RM90,000 in damages.

In her statement of claim, Norlina claimed that Sheikh Muszaphar did not settle certain payments for her service as personal assistant as agreed in her appointment letter dated April 2 that year.

She claimed that through a letter dated May 28, 2008, Sheikh Muszaphar terminated her service.

Norlina had sought, among others, RM47,751.85 which was allegedly used for his benefit, payment of RM45,000 for her services, general damages, costs and interests.

In a counter-claim filed on Feb 8, 2011, Sheikh Muszaphar said Norlina had acted on her own without his knowledge, purportedly to help him, and that he had never made any promises to her.

He also wanted Norlina to pay him RM25,000 which she had taken from the Negri Sembilan Action Council, which was payment supposed to be made to him.

On May 18 last year, the court struck out Norlina’s suit on grounds that she failed to comply with its order to file several documents for hearing of the case.

- Bernama