Cosmetics manufacturer loses appeal against order to pay RM265,000 to actress

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday dismissed an appeal by a manufacturer of Ronasutra cosmetics to set aside a lower court decision in ordering it to pay RM265,000 to actress Vanidah Imran as payment for the balance of contract between both parties.

Judge Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh made the decision after dismissing the appeal of the appellant, Miliyasutra Industries Sdn Bhd, on the grounds that the High Court had no reason to interfere with the Sessions Court’s decision made on May 23, 2017.

The judge, therefore, retained the decision made by the Sessions Court in ordering Miliyasutra to pay the remaining balance of RM265,000 in contract payment sought by Vanidah after the company breached her contract as Ronasutra’s product ambassador.

Miliyasutra was represented by counsel Phang Soon Mun while counsel Mohd Saiful Dzulhelmi Zulkifli acted on behalf of Vanidah.

Vanidah filed the suit against Miliyasutra on October 28, 2016, seeking the balance of payment of RM265,000 and RM500,000 in damages for the use of her image without consent.

In her statement of claim, Vanidah said she had signed a two-year contract worth RM490,000 with Miliyasutra in September 2012, during which the popular actress said she had fulfilled her responsibilities without receiving any complaint from the company.

She also claimed that when the contract expired in September 2014, she did not receive the balance payment of RM265,000 and that on April 6, 2015, the defendant had suggested a payment of RM60,000 as full settlement.

The Sessions Court on May 23, 2017, the Sessions Court ordered the company to pay RM265,000 in arrears contractually due to the actress.

However, the court dismissed Vanidah’s RM500,000 claim for damages from the company for using her image after the contract expired, as well as her claim for general, exemplary and aggravated damages.