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In a significant legal development, the Alor Setar High Court has issued a ruling requiring Datuk Mahfuz Omar, the vice-president of Parti Amanah Negara, to pay damages totaling RM250,000 to Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor as part of a defamation suit filed in 2020. The legal dispute revolves around a Facebook post made by Mahfuz on October 17, 2020, wherein he made allegations suggesting that Muhammad Sanusi was involved in the personal acquisition of a luxury Toyota Vellfire vehicle, supposedly financed by funds from Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA).
Presiding over the case, Judge Dr. Arik Sanusi Yeop delivered a verdict awarding Sanusi RM200,000 in general damages and an additional RM50,000 in punitive damages, along with RM30,000 to cover legal costs. The judge unequivocally stated in the judgment that Mahfuz's allegations were defamatory and malicious against the Kedah Menteri Besar.
As part of the court's directives, Arik mandated Mahfuz to issue a public apology within 14 days of the verdict. This apology is required to be published in both Bahasa Malaysia and an English daily, as well as on Mahfuz's Facebook account, subject to terms set by Sanusi. Additionally, Mahfuz is obligated to delete the Facebook post and video uploaded on October 17, 2020. The court explicitly prohibits all parties from uploading or publishing similar statements or content related to this matter.
The legal representation for Muhammad Sanusi included a team of lawyers, namely Yusfarizal Yussoff, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Mohd Faizi Che Abu, and Adam Luqman Hamdan. On the opposing side, Mahfuz was represented by lawyers Muhammad Faiz Fadzil and Faizal Abdullah.
This legal outcome serves as a reminder of the consequences associated with making defamatory statements, particularly in the public domain. The judgment underscores the importance of accountability for such allegations and seeks to restore the reputation of Muhammad Sanusi by holding Mahfuz accountable for his assertions. The ruling reaffirms the commitment to upholding individuals' reputations and discouraging the spread of unfounded defamatory claims.
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