Guan Eng, Papagomo's lawyer in verbal war over 'lying' claim

Lim Guan Eng has accused a lawyer for political blogger Muhammad Wan Azri Wan Deris of lying.

In return, counsel Logen Eskander Abdullah demanded the former finance minister to retract his claim.

The verbal altercation erupted during today’s civil court hearing of Guan Eng’s defamation suit against the former Umno Youth exco member.

The temperature began rising during Logen’s cross-examination when he asked a series of questions over Guan Eng’s claim that the blogger known as Papagomo made a sexual molestation claim linked to the DAP chairperson’s son.

The 2011 allegation was that one of Guan Eng’s sons, who was 15 at the time, sexually molested a classmate.

While in the witness box, Guan Eng (above) replied that his son was a minor when Azri made the allegation and that one must be extra careful when it comes to children.

Guan Eng: You are lying in court.

Logen: You withdraw that statement.

As the temperature boiled over, Kuala Lumpur High Court judicial commissioner Eddie Yeo directed for proceedings to stand down to cool the situation.

The proceedings resumed 15 minutes later with the judicial commissioner reminding parties to observe decorum and tact during the trial.

Yeo also directed Guan Eng to withdraw his remark which the Bagan MP did.

Seeking RM3m in damages

Guan Eng and one of his sons, Clint Lim, are suing Azri over the allegation that the duo was linked to an incident involving an undeclared sum of RM2 million in Singapore on Feb 29, 2020.

Clint claimed he was defamed when the blogger alleged that Singapore authorities had detained the then-teenager over the undeclared monies.

Guan Eng alleged he was defamed over the claim that he then flew to Singapore to save his son.

Guan Eng is seeking RM3 million in damages from Azri, who denies he is widely known by the public as Papagomo.

The civil action centres over a Facebook post dated March 14, 2020.

Azri raised the defence of justification and fair comment as an alternative defence to his main contention that the online post originated from an account not under his control.

Guan Eng is represented by counsel Simon Murali.

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