KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — The Court of Appeal dismissed today a bid by Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia and its senior editor to set aside a High Court judgment that found them guilty of publishing defamatory remarks against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sexuality. 

The three-judge panel also threw out an application by Umno to intervene in the appeal, noting remarks by the then-sitting High Court judge Datuk V.T. Singham that the ruling party had used its power to influence the Malay broadsheet’s editorial content, news portal The Malaysian Insider reported today.

Justice Datuk Zaharah Ibrahim reportedly said the Court of Appeal found no merit to disturb the High Court’s findings.

Opposition Leader Anwar had filed a RM50 million suit against the Malay newspaper and its group editor-in-chief, Datuk Abdul Aziz Ishak, accusing them of publishing two articles on Janaury 17, 2012 that purported to defame him.

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