Anwar gets RM900,000

Court to withdraw bankruptcy proceedings after Papagomo settles suit

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court is set to withdraw the bankruptcy proceedings against controversial blogger Papagomo (pic) after he coughed up over RM900,000 in damages to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for defamation.

Papagomo, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, paid RM951,260.27 before High Court deputy registrar Husna Dzulkifli in chambers.

His lawyer Irna Shahana Samsudin said her client paid RM950,000 in bank draft. The remaining RM1,260.27 was paid in RM1 notes and 30 sen.

She said the court had fixed today for case management to withdraw the bankruptcy proceedings against Wan Muhammad.

Anwar filed the bankruptcy proceeding on June 30.

Yesterday was the final day for Wan Muhammad to pay the sum.

He said he conducted a fund-raising exercise for three months through his Instagram and Twitter accounts.

He said those who donated included Wangsa Maju Umno Division members, businessmen and friends.

Other than the RM800,000 in damages, Wan Muhammad also had to pay four years’ interest on the amount as well as RM50,000 in costs.

In his suit filed on March 21, 2013, Anwar said the defendant had posted four defamatory statements on his blog.

In his defence, Wan Muhammad said he had never published words, images, videos or created any web link that slandered Anwar.

In December 2015, the Court of Appeal upheld the damages granted to Anwar and added another RM10,000 in costs. On July 26 last year, the Federal Court ordered Wan Muhammad to pay another RM10,000 in costs after it ruled that his appeal held no merit.