PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has dismissed Khairy Jamaluddin's appeal to challenge Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's defamation suit over a statement of immoral character filed against him 14 years ago.
A three-member panel comprising Judges Datuk Lee Swee Seng, Datuk Darryl Goon Siew Chye and Datuk Ghazali Cha, in a unanimous decision, ruled that there was no appealable error that warranted appellate intervention.
Justice Goon, who read out the decision in the virtual proceedings today, said the impugned statement uttered by Khairy, in the choice of analogy and figure of speech within the natural and ordinary meaning was capable of being defamatory to Anwar.
"The learned trial judge has taken the impugned statements in context including the figure of speech employed and concluded that the ordinary and natural meaning of the impugned statement by implication and/or inference, were both capable of being, and in fact, defamatory, as set out in his judgment.
"As it has been succinctly described, 'words, like people, are judged by the company they keep'. The sting is not so much in the words that are actually used but what ordinary men would infer from them. The inference that may be borne from the words used is also to be regarded in law as part of the natural and ordinary meaning used," he said.
In relation to the quantum of damages (RM150,000) awarded to Anwar, Justice Goon said the court did not find that the reward was manifestly excessive and there exists no justification for any appellate intervention.
"We, therefore, find no merit to this appeal, and the appeal is accordingly dismissed. The decision of the learned High Court judge is affirmed. We award a sum of RM50,000 to the respondent (Anwar)," he said.
Meanwhile, the appellate court also dismissed Khairy's appeal to amend his statement of defence with regard to the defamation suit by Anwar.
"We find no appealable error on the part of the judge in the exercise of his discretion to disallow the appellant's application to re-amend his statement of defence as it came much too late in the day after the trial concluded for an amendment of the nature sought to be made," said Justice Goon who also ordered Khairy to pay cost of RM10,000 to Anwar.
On March 7, 2008, Anwar, who is PKR president, sued Khairy, who was then Youth and Sports Minister and UMNO Youth vice-chief, for allegedly uttering defamatory words about him during a ceramah in Lembah Pantai on Feb 20 the same year which led to the posting of a video clip titled "Anwar and kin no threat" on a news portal.
In September 2017, High Court judge Azizul Azmi Adnan allowed Anwar's suit against Khairy and found Khairy liable for defamation and therefore ordered Khairy to pay RM150,000 in general damages to Anwar.
The judge also dismissed Khairy's application to amend his statement of defence to say that his remark was a fair comment.
Khairy subsequently filed the appeal against the High Court ruling but, in February 2018, the Court of Appeal struck it out after allowing Anwar's counsel's application to annul the notice of appeal.
On Dec 15, 2020, the Federal Court allowed Khairy's appeal for his case to be reheard on its full merits at the Court of Appeal.
Anwar was represented by counsel Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram while Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah acted for Khairy.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon Feb 07 2022
![Appelate Court dismisses Khairy's appeal against Anwar's defamation suit Appelate Court dismisses Khairy's appeal against Anwar's defamation suit](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-02/61644214723_TBanwarkhairy.jpg)
The Court of Appeal has dismissed Khairy Jamaluddin's appeal to challenge Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's defamation suit over a statement of immoral character filed against him 14 years ago. - Astro AWANI file photo
10 Berita Pilihan - (15 Ogos 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Pasukan PBB lawat Bangladesh, siasat pembunuhan protes pelajar
Pasukan penyiasat Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) akan melawat Bangladesh minggu depan untuk menyiasat ratusan kematian semasa protes yang diketuai pelajar baru-baru ini, menurut pegawai badan dunia itu pada Khamis.
Gempa bumi bermagnitud 5.7 gegar timur laut Taiwan
Gempa bumi berukuran 5.7 skala richter melanda daerah Timur Laut Taiwan pada Khamis.
Angka kematian di Gaza cecah 40,000 individu
Pasukan tentera Israel melakukan tiga pembunuhan beramai-ramai terhadap keluarga-keluarga di Semenanjung Gaza dalam tempoh 24 jam lepas, mengakibatkan sekurang-kurangnya 40 rakyat Palestin terbunuh dan 107 lagi cedera, menurut sumber perubatan.
Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega
Dalam tempoh berjaga-jaga, Agensi Meteorologi Jepun tidak melihat sebarang pergerakan gempa bumi yang luar biasa atau kerak bumi.
Rakyat UK terancam dengan imigran rampas peluang pekerjaan
Bimbang golongan imigran akan merampas peluang peluang pekerjaan menjadikan rakyat United KIngdom terutamanya mereka yang mempunyai masalah ekonomi melihat imigran sebagai satu ancaman.
Parti Pheu Thai pilih anak perempuan Thaksin calon PM
Paetongtarn, 37, adalah anak perempuan kepada jutawan yang juga bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pemilihan anak Thaksin sebagai PM Thailand dianggap tidak efektif
Pemilihan anak perempuan bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, untuk menggantikan Srettha Thavisin sebagai Perdana Menteri negara itu dianggap sebagai tidak efektif.
![Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723343252_Palestiniansmourn.jpg)
Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera
Perkhidmatan kecemasan masih tidak dapat membantu ramai mangsa dan membawa keluar mayat yang terperangkap di bawah runtuhan.
DNA mangsa kebakaran di Pagoh diperoleh, jenazah dijangka dikebumikan esok
Polis mengesahkan telah menerima laporan ujian asid deoksiribonukleik (DNA) dua mayat mangsa yang rentung dalam kebakaran rumah di Kampung Paya Redan, Pagoh, Johor Jumaat lepas.