KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 ― The Court of Appeal today ordered former police officer Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris to pay Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim RM800,000 in damages over blog posts he published several years ago under the name “Papagomo”.

According to Malaysiakini, the court dismissed the blogger's appeal against the quantum as well as against the High Court's decision to find him guilty of libel.

Justice Datuk Rohana Yusuf who led a three-man bench to preside over the matter, reportedly said that the High Court had not erred in its decision as it had found as fact through evidence from another blogger that Papagomo and Wan Muhammad Azri are the same person.

“Hence, the court found there is no error in facts with her decision. With this, the bench also noticed that the memorandum of appeal of Wan Muhammad Azri did not state he is appealing on the quantum.

“Hence, we find there is no reasonable grounds to disturb the High Court's judge on the quantum. With this, the court dismisses both appeals (on the decision and quantum),” she was quoted saying in the news portal.

According to Malaysiakini, Wan Muhammad Azri was also ordered to pay RM10,000 in costs to Anwar.

Wan Muhammad Azri was found guilty of libel by a High Court here on February 28 last year over posts he made as “Papagomo”, despite his continued denial that he was not the offending blogger.

In the decision then, judicial commissioner Rosilah Yop reportedly declared that Wan Muhammad Azri was indeed the “Papagomo” named in the defamation suit by Anwar and ordered him to pay RM800,000 in damages as well as an additional RM50,000 in costs.

Anwar had filed the defamation lawsuit against Papagomo in March 2013 and sought RM100 million in damages over blog posts linking him to a sex scandal then.

In his statement of claim, the opposition leader alleged the posts implied he was immoral and unqualified to hold public office.

Anwar said the blog had damaged his reputation and caused him and his family to suffer.