Sungai Siput MP settles RM100k defamation suit

Sungai Siput MP S Kesavan, who was accused of defaming his former parliamentary research officer Indrani Ramasamy, has paid his court-ordered summons.

Indrani’s lawyer Rueben Mathiavaranam confirmed to Malaysiakini that the PKR leader paid RM106,226.66 on Nov 6.

The payment was made through the law firm A Arman & Co.

"I confirm receipt of payment. Therefore, the case is settled,” Rueben said when contacted.

The Court of Appeal in October ordered Kesavan (above) to pay RM80,000 in damages and RM20,000 in costs to Indrani after ruling that Indrani had successfully proven her case.

In June last year, the High Court dismissed the defamation suit after the judge Azimah Omar concluded that both parties in the suit were having an affair.

Indrani, who was the former Sungai Siput PKR division treasurer, filed the suit against Kesavan after the MP denied her accusation that he had sexually harassed her.

In 2019, Malaysiakini reported that both Kesavan and Indrani had lodged police reports against each other.

In her police report, Indrani claimed she had been a victim of sexual harassment perpetrated by Kesavan since December 2018.

Kesavan, meanwhile, alleged that Indrani caused him mental torture and trauma.

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