Court will hear Uthayakumar’s RM100mil defamation suit

(The Star) – The RM100mil-defamation suit filed against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Attorney-General (AG) and Government by Hindraf legal adviser P. Uthayakumar will continue, the High Court here decided Wednesday.

Judicial commissioner Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof dismissed with costs the application made by the defendants to strike out the suit.

Uthayakumar’s counsel M. Manogaran said he would write to the court immediately to apply for a trial.

“We are very happy with the court’s decision that there is a case for the AG and IGP to answer to. We want them to come forward and bring evidence linking the Hindraf leaders to the terrorist group,” he told reporters Wednesday.

Manogaran added that there was a need to determine whether the defendants’ statements were directed towards Uthayakumar and made out of malice.

Uthayakumar filed the suit on Jan 4 last year and claimed that the words used by the defendants that were published in the media had the meaning that he was a terrorist.

He is claiming RM100mil in damages for libel and seeking other costs and relief deemed fit by the court.

Uthayakumar is currently detained under the Internal Security Act in the Kamunting detention centre along with Hindraf lawyer M. Manoharan and coordinator K. Vasantha Kumar for organising an illegal gathering on Nov 25, 2007.