High Court orders Utusan to pay Anwar RM200,000 in damages
BY MAIZATUL NAZLINA
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has awarded former Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) damages amounting to RM200,000 in a suit brought against Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd.
Anwar, on Jan 21, 2013, won the defamation suit against Utusan Melayu and its editor-in-chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak for publishing two articles regarding his comments to the BBC during an interview on homosexuality laws.
High Court judge Justice Hue Siew Kheng ordered RM100,000 general damages and another RM100,000 in aggravated damages.
Justice Hue made the order on the grounds that there was malice made by the defendants and injury to Anwar's feelings.
She also ordered Utusan to pay RM8,000 in costs.
On Oct 8, Justice Hue dismissed Utusan Melayu's application to raise Anwar's previous sodomy convictions in the trial, in order to reduce the quantum of damages.
She ruled that she was bound follow the Court of Appeal's decision on May 29 in an appeal by Anwar against Senator Datuk Seri S. Nallakaruppan, Utusan Melayu and Abdul Aziz.
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Seems to me, the tide is changing. Hope his next hearing on his current verdict is positive.
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