The Terengganu Sultanah appeal was heard on Sept 22
The Terengganu Sultanah appeal was heard on Sept 22 regarding the defamation suit against Rewcastle-Brown
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has set Sept 22 to hear Sultanah Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah’s appeal against the High Court’s decision to dismiss her majesty’s suit against Sarawak Report Editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown and two others for allegedly defaming her majesty.
His lawyer, Datuk Mohd Haaziq Pillay, when contacted by Bernama , confirmed the setting of the hearing date for the appeal after today’s case management before the Deputy Registrar of the Court of Appeal Zuhrina Mohamed Nor.
On Oct 31 last year, High Court Judicial Commissioner Dr John Lee Kien How @ Mohd Johan dismissed Sultanah Nur Zahirah’s suit against Rewcastle-Brown, publisher Gerakbudaya Enterprise and printer Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd.
The judicial commissioner ruled that there were no defamatory statements in Rewcastle-Brown’s book titled “The Sarawak Report-The Inside 1MDB Expose”.
Sultanah Nur Zahirah then filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal on Nov 7 last year against the High Court’s decision.
On 21 Nov 2018, Sultanah Nur Zahirah sued Rewcastle-Brown, Gerakbudaya and Vinlin Press demanding general damages of RM100 million from each defendant as well as requesting an order for the publisher to withdraw the book allegedly containing defamatory statements and for the printer to stop printing the book.
Sultanah Nur Zahirah claimed that the slanderous statement meant, among other things, that her Majesty was involved in corrupt practices and meddling in the administration of the Terengganu state government as well as using her status to influence the establishment of the Terengganu Investment Board (TIA) which was later known as 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Sultanah Nur Zahirah also claimed that the statement meant that her Majesty was helping fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, to become TIA’s advisor.
In a statement of defence, the three defendants denied making accusations that the plaintiff was involved in corrupt practices.
Rewcastle-Brown also claimed that Sarawak Report never suggested that the plaintiff was involved in a conspiracy involving Jho Low and never suggested that she (Sultanah Nur Zahirah) was involved in government administration related to 1MDB affairs.
