KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — The High Court here has ordered pro-Umno blogger Papagomo to pay a businessman RM500,000 in damages over a defamation suit.
The court identified Papagomo as Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, who is also being sued by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for linking the Opposition Leader to a sex video.
Today's judgment came about from businessman Abdul Razak Mohd Noor's RM10 million defamation suit against Papagomo.
It was found the blogger had implied he was a liar who earned millions of ringgit in the Commonwealth Games.
Judicial Commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera ordered Papagomo to pay RM200,000 in general damages and RM300,000 in exemplary damages.
He also granted an injunction to stop Papagomo from further defaming Abdul Razak.
Papagomo was also ordered to pay the businessman RM50,000 in costs.
Vazeer said in his judgment that Papagomo was not remorseful and this was reflected in his conduct when he testified in the defamation trial.
He said he hoped the award would serve as a lesson to bloggers who posted defamatory articles anonymously.
