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KUALA LUMPUR – The senior shariah court judge at the centre of alleged sexual harassment accusations has sent a legal letter to prominent Umno member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam today over alleged defamatory remarks the latter made on Facebook.
According to Malay Mail, Datuk Mohd Naim Mokhtar had sent a letter of demand to Lokman over “defamatory” and “untruthful” remarks the latter made about him in a video on the social media site on January 10.
In the letter sighted by the portal, Naim is demanding that Lokman retract his statements and delete them from social media.
The judge is also seeking an open and unreserved apology from the former Umno Supreme Council member that is to be made within 24 hours, as well as damages caused by the statements.
The letter, undersigned by the judge’s lawyer, Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, listed a total of 21 defamatory and slanderous statements allegedly made by Lokman in the video.
“Failing which, we have our client’s strict instructions to initiate legal proceedings against you, including injunctive reliefs, damages and or any other such relief, with costs and interest, without any further reference to you,” the letter read, as quoted by Malay Mail.
In an almost hour-long video uploaded on YouTube, Lokman said that he first discovered a police report by another woman who had worked with the judge.
Lokman alleged that the woman was working for Radio Ikim (Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia) when the judge went to her house.
He then only left early in the morning, after “everything except the act of penetration” took place, Lokman alleged. After the incident, a police report was made by the woman and a former Terengganu mufti.
Lokman claimed that despite police and Ikim being aware of the matter, no action was taken against the judge. Instead, Ikim conducted investigations but found no prima facie case against her to take disciplinary action.
On the alleged incident involving the wife of a former CEO, Lokman claimed that the survivor’s husband was bedridden at home when the judge visited, during which the alleged sexual harassment took place.
Referring to a purported police report filed by the survivor, he said that the judge had visited the home of the couple, saying that he would like to join them in prayer.
However, the woman discovered that the judge had gotten naked and laid on a bed in the house, Lokman alleged.
Shocked by what she saw, the survivor proceeded to hide in a different room and later claimed that the judge only left at 3am.
Yesterday, reports quoted the senior judge who said he had lodged a police report against Lokman, and how he intends to initiate legal action against the latter.
The judge accused Lokman of slander and committing criminal defamation while denying the accusations levelled against him, saying they were all orchestrated by certain individuals to oust the fprmer from his position.
Ampang Jaya police chief Mohamad Farouk Eshak had told The Vibes yesterday about how several more witnesses will have to be interviewed before completing investigations into the case.
Farouk also said the investigation team has been ordered to probe into and expand several other elements of investigation by Bukit Aman’s Prosecution and Legal division following the report lodged against the judge in December last year.
Earlier today, Lokman told The Vibes how he saw it as his calling to expose the alleged erroneous behaviours of the high-ranking judge, as the actions and abuses of someone of such stature within a religion-guided institution is tarnishing the image of Islam.
“People like this cannot be protected because similar incidents could occur repeatedly.
“So, before he uses his position as the chief shariah judge, which is the highest here in Malaysia, it’s better that people know the actual issue and his appalling behaviour,” Lokman said when contacted. – The Vibes, January 13, 2022