KUALA LUMPUR: High Court judge Datuk Su Geok Yiam recused herself from
hearing opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's RM50 million
defamation suit against senator Datuk S. Nallakaruppan.
She removed herself from the civil matter when she allowed
Nallakaruppan's recusal application while in chambers today.
Counsel Shahid Adli Kamarudin, who appeared for Anwar, confirmed the
outcome and said Su recused herself as it is not appropriate for her
to hear the suit against the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP)
president.
"She made comments in her ruling when striking out (Nallakaruppan's)
statement of defence," he said.
Shahid said a case management date has yet to be fixed to assign a new
judge to preside over Anwar's suit. Counsel Syed Ismat Syed Muhamad
acted for Nallakaruppan.
Neither Anwar nor Nallakaruppan attended court today.
Anwar filed the suit at the High Court Registry on Aug 25, 2008, over
alleged derogatory remarks by Nallakaruppan in an article titled
"Anwar terima RM60 juta" (Anwar receives RM60
million), which was
published in two Malay dailies that month.
Su, on June 19, 2012, allowed Anwar's application to strike out
Nallakaruppan's statement of defence and held Nallakaruppan liable for
making the defamatory statements.
Nallakaruppan appealed to the Court of Appeal, which dismissed it in
January last year. The Federal Court on March 26 however restored his
statement of defence and ordered the suit be heard at the High Court
here.