Court gives Defence Minister a month to submit statement of defence

Zahid Hamidi fails in to have assault suit against him struck out

(Malay Mail) – A High Court here this morning shot down an application by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to strike out an assault suit filed against him by an entrepreneur three years ago.

In proceedings done in chambers, judicial commissioner Datuk Zaleha Yusof dismissed the application by the 57-year-old minister to strike out a 2007 suit by Amir Bazli Abdullah, 40.

Zaleha dismissed Ahmad Zahid’s application with the cost of RM3,000 to be borne by the latter. Amir Bazli’s counsel, Karpal Singh, told reporters outside the courtroom that Zaleha had given Ahmad Zahid a month to submit his statement of defence to the plaintiff’s suit.

No details were provided to reporters on why the court dismissed the minister’s application to strike out the suit.

Ahmad Zahid had, on Aug 29, 2007, filed an application to strike out a suit by Amir Bazli who alleged the minister assaulted him on Jan 16, 2006, at 10pm, as he was refueling his car at a petrol station in Bangi.

In Ahmad Zahid’s application, the then Deputy Information Minister claimed the suit was “scandalous, vexatious, frivolous and abuse of the court process”. Amir Bazli filed the suit on July 4, 2007, alleging that Ahmad Zahid assaulted him, that he was wrongfully confined at the minister’s house in Kajang and as a result of the assault, suffered facial injuries.

The plaintiff was claiming for an unspecified amount in special and general damages. He also lodged a police report on the alleged incident on Dec 20, 2006.

Ahmad Zahid was represented by counsel Shashi Menon and Shamsul Baharin Ibrahim.