Apology settles Rm10msuit

Lawyer says sorry for defaming fellow counsel

KUALA LUMPUR: A RM10mil defamation suit filed by lawyer Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar against Syarie counsel Kamar Ainiah Kamaruzaman has been settled after she openly apologised at the High Court here.

High Court Judge judicial commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera recorded the settlement in the presence of counsel Nizam Bashir Abdul Kariem Bahir and Datuk Haaziq Pillay who acted for Zainur Rijal and Azhar Arman Ali for Kamar Ainiah here yesterday.

“I commend both parties for reaching this settlement in the holy month of Ramadan,” he said.

Besides Kamar Ainiah, her lawfirm Messrs Kamar Ainiah, Razif & Zashidi had also been named as second defendants. They are representing Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his qazaf (false allegation) case.

Earlier, Kamar Ainiah read her settlement order before Justice Vazeer.

She admitted to saying certain things on Aug 18 last year which had caused embarrassment and distress to the plaintiff.

“We have no basis to support the allegations made.

“Consequently, we apologise, without any reservations and express our sincere regrets to Zainul Rijal for any mental distress, damage and suffering sustained,” she added.

She, however, said the apology was not applicable to the Syariah proceedings of the qazaf case filed by Anwar.

On Feb 13, Zainul Rijal filed the suit against Kamar Ainiah and her law firm for RM10mil over her alleged defamatory statements against him as a lawyer representing three government officers in Anwar’s qazaf case.

In the statement of claim, Zainul said the defendants had republished defamatory words of him through a press conference held in the vicinity of the Syariah Court here on Aug 18 last year.