Melaka exco member told to pay brother RM45,000 for libel
Published on: Wednesday, December 13, 2023
By: FMT
The Melaka sessions court has found Dr Akmal Saleh liable to his own brother for defamatory comments made on Facebook in August last year. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Melaka sessions court has ordered state executive councillor Dr Akmal Saleh to pay RM45,000 in damages to his elder brother after finding him liable for defamation.
The suit was filed by Dr Solehin Saleh against Akmal in September last year.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the claim, Solehin said his brother had in a Facebook post on Aug 26, 2022 libelled him by describing him as an individual in debt and claiming he had maliciously posted negative comments about Akmal using a fake account.
Solehin claimed the comments implied that he was a cheat, immoral, lacking in integrity and an irresponsible elder brother.
In a brief oral judgment, trial judge Sabri Ismail held that Solehin had proven his case against Akmal on a balance of probabilities.
The court awarded him RM30,000 in general damages, RM10,000 in aggravated damages and RM5,000 in exemplary damages.
ADVERTISEMENT
Akmal was also ordered to pay his brother costs of RM4,200.
Lawyer Ahmad Azri Abdullah represented Solehin, while Fadhil Yusof appeared for Akmal.
ADVERTISEMENT
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
