Ex-CCID director’s suit against newspapers settled with apology

(Bernama) – The defamation suit filed by former Bukit Aman Commercial Criminal Investigation director Datuk Ramli Yusuff against four newspaper publications was settled today after the four companies apologised for their mistake.

The terms of the settlement were recorded by High Court judge Abu Bakar Jais in chambers in the presence of lawyers Bhag Singh and Ammar Ghalip, representing The Star Publication (Malaysia) Bhd, and Ramli’s lawyer, Harvinderjit Singh.

Besides The Star, the other defendants were The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP), Sabah Publishing House Sdn. Bhd and The Borneo Post.  

In the settlement, the court also ordered NSTP to pay costs of RM120,000 to Ramli, while The Star ordered to pay cost of RM60,000 and Sabah Publishing House Sdn Bhd and The Borneo Post of RM20,000 each.

Ramli, 64, who is now a lawyer, filed the suit on July 4, 2013, claiming that all the defendants had published news reports which affected his reputation.

He claimed the reports portrayed him as a policeman who abused his power and with assets, worth RM27 million, which were illegally obtained.