The Court of Appeal today overturned a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision and ordered a former driver to pay RM200,000 to his previous employer and actress Zahida Rafique.

Justice Lim Yee Lan, who chaired the three-member bench, allowed Zahida's counter-claim and set aside a previous court order, which required her to pay RM150,000 in damages to her former driver.

She also ordered the former driver Noor Azman Azemi to pay RM50,000 in costs.

The other judges were Justice Badariah Sahamid and Justice Hasnah Hashim.

Justice Hasnah in reading out her decision said the appellate court is entitled to interfere in this case as there were cogent evidence to show how the monies were obtained by Zahida and the conduct of Noor Azman on the day of the incident on Feb 29, 2012, was questionable.

"The statement made by Zahida as published in Harian Metro is protected privilege extended from the report she lodged with the police," Justice Hasnah ruled.

It was previously reported by Harian Metro that the Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Hue Siew Kheng ordered the actress to pay RM150,000 for defaming Noor Azman when she accused him of allegedly stealing RM200,000 given to him to be deposited in her account.

In dismissing the counter-claim, Justice Hue had also ruled that Zahida had not only defamed Noor Azman but had also fabricated an invoice during her testimony in court.

“She had presented various versions regarding the source of the RM200,000. There is a contradiction in evidence given by Zahida and businessman and Puncak Utas owner Shaheful Ardan Adenan with regard to the money.

“Zahida claimed it was commission for her loan of RM20,000 given to the businessman. She claimed the money was part of a profit of RM243,000 which Shaheful gave as a return on her investment.

"However, the businessman in his testimony said the RM200,000 was given as ‘wang ihsan’ (complimentary money),” the judge had said in her judgment.

It was reported that Zahida was linked to a former Umno politician Shafie Apdal, a claim which the former rural development minister had denied in 2012.

Noor Azman filed the law suit in 2013 claiming that the actress, who acted in "Anak Mami The Movie", had wrongfully and with bad intention given defamatory statements in an article published by the tabloid.

He claimed that Zahida had allegedly accused him of running away with money she gave him to deposit into her bank account.

Noor Azman contended that the statements had portrayed him as not trustworthy, a thief and a criminal, and gave him a bad reputation, jeopardising his chances of getting jobs.

Following the actress' allegations, Noor Azman is facing a criminal breach of trust charge and he further claimed that he had been harassed by police before he gave his evidence.

Zahida was represented by senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Sarah Abishegam while Latheefa Koya appeared for Noor Azman.

Latheefa said she has been instructed to appeal against today's decision as it sets a dangerous precedence.