Malaysia – Yesterday, Chief Syarie Judge Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has filed a defamation action totaling to RM30 million against former Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam in connection with charges of sexual harassment against many women, including one wearing the title of Datin.
On January 17, Mohd Na’im, 54, filed the claim in the High Court via Messrs Akberdin & Co, identifying Lokman, 49, as the defendant.
Mohd Na’im, who is also the director-general of the Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia, filed the complaint in his own capacity, saying that the defendant defamed him in two live broadcasts on the Facebook page Lokman Noor Adam Official on January 10 and January 13.
The plaintiff alleged that the defendant additionally posted the live broadcast on his YouTube website on January 10 and 14, as well as three defamatory postings against him on Facebook on January 11 and 13.
The plaintiff further claimed that the defamatory claims meant that he was a spiritual opportunist, that he had failed to be a trustworthy leader or set a good example for the community, and that the Syariah Judiciary Department’s excellent image had been destroyed.
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Mohd Na’im argued that the defendant’s Facebook and YouTube pages may be watched and commented on by the general public, therefore the live broadcast and other materials were distributed to other parties.
The plaintiff stated in the case that the defendant released the statement with the idea that it would be publicized domestically and globally via electronic media as well as print media.
According to the plaintiff, on December 12, last year, he filed a police report to reject the Datin’s charges against him, and he also filed a police complaint against Lokman for his activities.
According to the plaintiff, a notice of claim was issued on January 13 against the defendant, requiring the defendant to withdraw the defamatory statements and delete the Facebook posts, as well as make a public apology within 24 hours, but as of yesterday, the defendant had ignored the police report and notice.
He claimed that the defamatory allegations had harmed his reputation, dignity, image, and social standing.
Mohd Na’im is requesting an order requiring the defendant to erase the recordings and postings and to prohibit the defendant from republishing them, as well as an apology from the defendant to be posted on social media.
The plaintiff is also seeking general damages to be assessed by the court, as well as exemplary, aggravated, and punitive damages totaling RM10 million each, with 5% interest per annum computed from the date of judgment until complete settlement, and any remedy considered appropriate by the court. The injunction motion will be heard today before High Court Judge Datuk Rozana Ali Yusoff, and case management will take place on February 21.
