KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here yesterday awarded RM50,000 in damages to a novelist who won a suit against her personal assistant, who is also her sister-in-law, over defamatory statements posted on Facebook.
Judicial Commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera also ordered the defendant, Asmaliyana Ahmad, 24, to pay RM10,000 in costs to the novelist, Siti Rosmizah Semail, 42.
The court made the ruling after hearing evidence on assessment of damages.
Counsel Mohd Reza Mohd Rafie, represented Siti Rosmizah, who is also a lawyer, while Hussin Razak acted for Asmaliyana.
On Aug 4, Vazeer Alam allowed an application for a judgment in default by Siti Rosmizah against Asmaliyana as she failed to enter an appearance within the stipulated period after the filing of the suit.
On Dec 18, last year, Siti Rosmizah filed a suit for RM3 million against Asmaliyana, claiming the latter had posted several defamatory statements on her (defendant’s) Facebook between April 21 and July 24 last year.
In the statement of claim, Siti Rosmizah stated that she was the recipient of the ‘Pilihan Pembaca Popular Berita Harian 2009’ award, and that the postings of the defamatory statements had tarnished her reputation as a lawyer and a respected writer.
She also claimed it affected her income as she was no longer invited to give talks on novel writing by publishers.
She sought RM1.5 million in general damages, and another RM1.5 million in aggravated damages, as well as interest, cost and other relief which the court deemed fit. — Bernama