The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today found Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Yunos guilty of defaming former Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah and ordered him to pay RM300,000 in damages.

In his judgment, Justice Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab said that he found Jamal guilty as he had failed in his defence of qualified privilege.

The judge found that the allegation had lowered Maria's reputation as Jamal does not have the moral or legal duty to make such allegation.

"His defence of fair comment failed to provide the facts asserted and to prove the facts to support his claim.

"The court orders the defendant (Jamal) to pay RM300,000 in damages," Justice Zaki ruled.

In addition to this, the court also ordered Jamal to pay RM40,000 in costs.

Lawyers N Surendran and Latheefa Koya appeared for Maria, while Nasir Yusof and V Mugunthan represented Jamal.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, social activist Hishamuddin Rais, former inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar and Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim were among the witnesses who testified at the trial.

Maria, now MP for Petaling Jaya, had sued Jamal for defamation on Oct 7, 2016, after he alleged - just before the Bersih 5 rally - that Bersih which she headed had been infiltrated by Islamic State elements.  

Jamal, then leader of the Umno-linked “Red Shirts” street rally movement, had uttered the remarks during two earlier press conferences that week.

As a result of Jamal's statements, Maria was held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

Two days before Maria filed her suit, Jamal held another press conference during which he flushed her letter of demand for an apology down a toilet saying that he would see Maria in court.