Hindraf ex-adviser ordered to pay damages

GEORGE TOWN: The High Court yesterday ordered former Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) national adviser N. Ganesan to pay RM50,000 in damages each to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy over a defamation suit.

In making the ruling, judge Datuk Lim Chong Fong also ordered the defendant to pay RM25,000 in costs in a lump sum to both plaintiffs.

Lim said Guan Eng and Ramasamy, as high-ranking public officers, could take legal action against persons who had defamed and passed slanderous remarks against them.

He said the plaintiffs had proved that they were disparaged with remarks made by the defendant and so the defamation suit was filed.

The judge also said Ganesan failed to establish evidence that “thugs” were sent by Guan Eng and Ramasamy to disrupt a Hindraf forum held on Dec 4, 2013.

Lim added there were elements of malice when a press conference was held by Ganesan on Dec 4, 2013 to make slanderous remarks and it had become of public interest.

Lim said Ganesan should have allowed the police to do their duty when a police report was lodged on Dec 3, 2013 instead of holding a media conference to utter the disparaging remarks.

He noted that every public officer was subjected to public scrutiny and criticism could be made. “But it should not digress into slander remarks.”