KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — The High Court today dismissed an application by Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, to stay the execution of a judgment ordering him to pay RM280,000 in damages to former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his son.
Judge Roslan Mat Nor, in dismissing the application, ruled that the defendant had failed to establish any special circumstances warranting a stay of execution pending the disposal of his appeal, which was filed on June 2.
“The defendant claimed that he would succeed in his appeal and that the appeal would be rendered academic if the judgment sum was paid now. The defendant also contended that he would face bankruptcy proceedings if the plaintiffs executed the judgment.
“These reasons do not assist the court in exercising its discretion to grant a stay,” he said, and ordered Wan Muhammad Azri to pay RM5,000 in costs.
On May 19 this year, the court ruled that Wan Muhammad Azri was liable for defamation and ordered him to pay RM280,000 in damages to Guan Eng and Clint Lim Way Chau over the latter's posts alleging that Way Chau was detained in Singapore for purportedly bringing in RM2 million in undeclared cash in 2020.
The court ordered the defendant to pay global damages of RM200,000 and costs of RM30,000 to Guan Eng as well as damages of RM80,000 and costs of RM10,000 to the second plaintiff (Way Chau).
The duo filed the suit on April 19, 2020, alleging that the defendant had posted defamatory statements on his Facebook page claiming that Way Chau was detained at Changi Airport on February 29, 2020, for bringing in RM2 million in undeclared cash.
Guan Eng said the defendant, who uploaded the post under the name ‘Papa Azri’ on March 14, 2020, also claimed that Guan Eng had travelled to Singapore on February 29, 2020, after the alleged detention.
Lawyer Simon Murali attended today's proceedings, representing both plaintiffs, while lawyer Fazilah Jaafar represented Wan Muhammad Azri. — Bernama
