Siti Mastura deposits RM830k damages to DAP leaders pending appeal

Summary

• Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad has transferred RM830,000 in damages, costs, and interest into the accounts of law firm SN Nair & Partners, which represents DAP leaders who successfully sued her for defamation.

• However, the funds will not be paid to Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, and Teresa Kok pending the disposal of the PAS lawmaker’s appeal at a higher court.

Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad has deposited RM830,034.75 into the account of the law firm representing DAP leaders who had successfully sued her for defamation.

However, the money will not be paid to Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, and Teresa Kok pending an appeal on the High Court decision.

Siti Mastura’s lawyer Yusfarizal Yusoff was quoted by Free Malaysia Today as saying that both parties had agreed that the funds would be kept in SN Nair & Partners’ accounts until the matter is disposed of at the Court of Appeal.

The RM830,000 includes interest on the RM825,000 in damages and cost that Siti Mastura was ordered to pay the Lims and Kok last year.

The first-time MP had in a speech alleged that the Lims were related to Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng and that Kok was also related to the Lims.

After losing the case, PAS reportedly organised a “jihad” fundraiser to help Mastura pay the damages.

This was to avoid her being declared bankrupt, which would trigger a by-election in her constituency.

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