Nurul gets RM850,000 in damages in suit against Ismail Sabri and ex-IGP
The suit arose over defamatory statements that linked her with self-styled Sulu princess Jacel Kiram.
PUTRAJAYA: Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar will receive RM850,000 in damages in her lawsuit over defamatory statements that linked her with self-styled Sulu princess Jacel Kiram.
Her lawyer, Ranjit Singh, informed the Court of Appeal three-man bench today that his client, former rural and regional development minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had reached a settlement.
He said all parties in the suit had agreed for Ismail’s appeal against liability to be dismissed and also for him (Ismail) to pay a reduced quantum of damages to Nurul Izzah from RM600,000 to RM450,000.
Ranjit Singh said Ismail would also tender a private apology to Nurul Izzah.
Lawyer Ragunath Kesevan, appearing for Ismail, confirmed the settlement.
Meanwhile, former inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar would have to pay RM400,000 in damages to Nurul Izzah after his appeal was dismissed by the court with RM15,000 costs.
The bench, comprising Justices Hamid Sultan Abu Backer, Kamaludin Md Said and Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah proceeded to hear Khalid’s appeal after Khalid could not settle the matter with Nurul Izzah on the quantum of damages.
Ranjit Singh earlier told the court that Khalid could not agree to his client’s proposal to reduce the quantum of damages to RM300,000.
Senior federal counsel Zureen Elina Mohd Dom, who represented Khalid, cited case authorities to support her submission that the quantum of damages should be lesser than the proposed amount.
On April 18 last year, the High Court ordered Ismail and Khalid to pay RM600,000 and RM400,000 in damages respectively to Nurul Izzah after ruling that the statements made by them at two separate press conferences had in its natural and ordinary meaning defamed Nurul Izzah after the appearance of a photograph showing her with self-styled Sulu princess Jacel Kiram.
Nurul Izzah sued the duo alleging that they had portrayed her as a traitor to the country and the mastermind in the Lahad Datu intrusion in Sabah in 2013.
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Nurul Izzah attended the court proceedings. Her father, Anwar Ibrahim, was present briefly in the court.