By Clara Chooi
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — The High Court today ruled that Senator Datuk S. Nallakaruppan had defamed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a former tennis partner and close associate, when he accused the opposition leader of receiving RM60 million from a major corporation.
Anwar’s lawyer, Latheefa Koya, said in a statement here that Justice Datuk Su Geok Yiam, upon hearing submissions from both parties in chambers today, decided to strike off Nallakaruppan’s statement of defence on the grounds that it was “frivolous, vexatious and tantamount to an abuse of court process”.
The court also ordered Nallakaruppan, who is currently the Malaysian United Indian Party (MUIP) president, to pay damages and costs to the de facto head of PKR.
Latheefa said Anwar had filed an application to dismiss Nallakaruppan’s statement of defence as the latter had failed to furnish further information on his allegations, as directed by a court order issued on August 28, 2009.
The court had then entered a judgment of liability against Nallakaruppan for his defamatory remarks accusing Anwar of receiving RM60 million in cash from Magnum Corporation, according to the lawyer.
The allegation was reportedly issued by Nallakaruppan on August 23, 2008, and was carried by Mingguan Malaysia in an article entitled, “Didakwa Terima 60 Juta” (Accused of receiving RM60 million).
Earlier last month, Anwar filed yet another defamation suit against Nallakaruppan, this time for the latter’s remarks calling him bisexual and unfit to be the opposition leader.
In the RM100 million suit, Anwar had also named Utusan Malaysia and the paper’s chief editor, Abdul Aziz Ishak, as defendants.
The Utusan Malaysia article, front-paged on March 20 under the headline “Nallakaruppan tuduh Anwar biseksual” (Nallakaruppan accuses Anwar of being bisexual), contained claims by Nallakarupan of affairs involving Anwar and employees of Magnum Corporation.
Nallakaruppan had also alleged that he had personally witnessed Anwar’s bisexuality throughout their 30 years of friendship.