KUALA LUMPUR: Actress Zahida Rafik yesterday failed to strike out a lawsuit filed by her former personal driver for allegedly defaming him in a Malay tabloid over the loss of RM200,000.
High Court Judge Datuk Hue Siew Kheng dismissed Zahida’s application to strike out the suit brought by Noor Azman Azemi and ordered Zahida to pay RM3,500 in costs to Noor Azman.
The judge made the ruling in chambers in the presence of counsel Latheefa Koya representing Noor Azman and Jeffrey John who acted for Zahida. Latheefa told reporters that Justice Hue dismissed the application on grounds that the suit was not a plain and obvious case for striking out.
“The judge held that this is not an appropriate case to dismiss,” she said, adding that the court had set Oct 20 and 21 for trial.
Latheefa further said the court had also refused the defendant’s (Zahida’s) application to stay today’s ruling pending appeal.
On Nov 27 last year, Noor Azman filed the suit claiming that the actress, who acted in Anak Mami The Movie, had wrongfully and with bad intention given defamatory statements in an article published in the tabloid on March 3 last year.
He claimed that Zahida had allegedly accused him of running away with money that he was to deposit it in her bank account.
He contended that the statements had portrayed him as not trustworthy, a thief and a criminal, and gave him a bad reputation, jeopardising his chances of getting jobs.
Noor Azman said he was remanded by the police for four days after Zahida, 39, lodged a report against him on the loss.
The plaintiff is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages as well as costs and other relief deemed fit by the court. — Bernama