Most Read
Most Commented
Read more like this
mk-logo
News
Ex-MIC Youth chief ordered to pay RM80k to MBPP member

The High Court in George Town today ordered former MIC Youth leader J Dhinagaran to pay damages of RM80,000 in a defamation suit filed by Penang City Council (MBPP) member Ong Ah Teong.

Judicial Commissioner Azmi Ariffin also ordered Dhinagaran to pay costs of RM25,000, with interest of five percent, to Ong.

In the judgment, Azmi said what were uttered by Dhinagaran at a media conference on Jan 11 and 19, 2013, were targetted at Ong and were defamatory.

He said the defence of qualified privilege by Dhinagaran could not be accepted because the remarks were not made with good intention, a mere denial and an afterthought.

Ong had filed the suit in March 2013, claiming that Dhinagaran had made disparaging remarks at him to several reporters, including from The Star , during a media conference on Jan 11 and 19, 2013 that he (Ong) received a bribe from the public.

Dhinagaran was alleged to have made the remarks in reference to an article, which also had a picture of three MBPP members, including Ong, that was posted on the website www.imagnews.com.my on Dec 12, 2012.

The article on the website claimed that a councillor had taken a bribe from a businesswoman.

In his statement of claim, Ong stated that the statements made by Dhinagaran at the two media conference had resulted in two articles to be published in The Star newspaper.

One of the articles, with the title ‘Youth leader gathering facts to back graft claim’, was published on Jan 12, 2013, while the other, ‘I have proof, says Dhinagaran - MIC Man: CD shows councillor receiving bribe,’ was also published in January.

Lawyers Simon Murali and K Kumarathiraviam represented Ong and Dhinagaran, respectively.

Meanwhile, Dhinagaran, when met by reporters, said he would appeal against the decision.

- Bernama

ADS