Lawyer Kamar Ainiah Kamaruzaman, who represents Anwar Ibrahim in his 'qazaf' (criminal defamation) case, today apologised for her statement on Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association president Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar.

Kamar Ainiah read the apology statement before High Court Judicial Commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, in the presence of her lawyer, Azhar Arman Ali, Zainur Rijal and his lawyers, Datuk Mohd Haaziq Pillay and Nizam Bashir.

NONE Kamar Ainiah (left) said the apology was for the statement she made when interviewed by reporters at the Federal Territory Syariah Court on Aug 18, last year, regarding the 'qazaf' case against Anwar's former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

In the case, Zainur Rijal was representing Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom, Federal Territory syarie chief prosecutor Shamsuddin Hussain and Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department director Che Mat Che Ali.

Apart from Kamar Ainiah, her legal firm Messrs Kamar Ainiah, Raziff & Zashidi, which was named as the second defendant, also apologised.

"We (Kamar Ainiah and legal firm) have said certain things and we have also said certain things to the press regarding the plaintiff on that day. We admit that we have no basis to support the allegations made.

NONE "Consequently, we apologise, without any reservations and express our sincere regrets to the plaintiff for any mental distress, damage and suffering sustained by him and any suspicion which may arise and/or arose against him as a consequence of those allegations.

"However, this apology shall not be used in the Syariah proceedings, filed by our client," Kamar Ainiah said.

On Feb 13, Zainul Rijal filed a RM10 million defamation suit against Kamar Ainiah and the firm.

In his statement of claim, Zainul Rijal alleged Kamar Ainiah had made a defamatory statement to reporters to tarnish his image as a lawyer and businessman.

Meanwhile, Vazeer Alam also commended the efforts taken by the two parties to solve the dispute in a good manner in the month of Ramadan.

- Bernama