The suit is over, Ben Amir agreed to pay RM100,000 to the production company
KUALA LUMPUR: A suit filed by a production company against actor Ben Amir, who allegedly breached the agreement after refusing to resume filming a drama that was delayed due to COVID-19, was settled amicably at the Sessions Court here.
The settlement of the case was reached by both parties after Ben Amir or real name Muhammad Amir Sabaruddin, 32, as the defendant agreed to pay RM100,000 to the plaintiff, Elisa Vision Sdn Bhd.
Based on the consent order, Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar said Muhammad Amir had to pay RM100,000 in five installments of RM20,000 each time the payment started on May 10.
“If the defendant (Muhammad Amir) fails to pay the money (RM100,000), then the original amount claimed by the plaintiff in the suit case of RM211,477 must be returned by the defendant,” said the judge who then recorded the consent order.
The court also recorded the withdrawal of the counterclaim filed by the ‘Sweet Dreams’ drama actor against the production company. Today is set for the first day trial of the suit case.
In March last year, Elisa Vision filed the suit after claiming that the actor had violated the agreement after refusing to set a new date for the filming of the drama series titled ‘Demi’.
Based on the statement of claim, the plaintiff said the defendant’s involvement in the filming of the drama was 13 days involving 85 scenes for three episodes.
However, the plaintiffs claimed that during filming in Scotland, the COVID-19 pandemic began to strike but filming still continued by taking precautions by adhering to established standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Plaintiff claimed that on March 27, 2020, defendant had returned to Malaysia leaving all production crew and actors without plaintiff’s knowledge and defendant himself admitted to having violated the production schedule when returning early to Malaysia when interviewed by Melodi show host which aired on 12 April 2020.
The plaintiff intends to continue filming the drama in Malaysia on Jan 4 to Feb 14, 2021, but the defendant through a letter dated Oct 14, 2020 through his management SJ Global has stated his refusal to set a new filming date and stated the agreement has been terminated.
Therefore, the plaintiff has suffered losses and is seeking, among others, damages of RM211,477.08, interest, costs and other appropriate relief by the court.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Amir when met by reporters after the proceedings only said “well done” while Elisa Vision Sdn Bhd producer, Datin Mahfuzah Zakkiah Abdain expressed her gratitude because the suit case could be resolved.
source – BERNAMA
