Press Statement Abdul Hadi Awang
PRESS STATEMENT
1 May 2018,
Terengganu, Malaysia
(1) DATO SERI TUAN GURU ABDUL HADI AWANG DEFAMATION ACTION – COURT STRIKES OUT SARAWAK REPORT ‘TRUTH’ DEFENCE AND DEFENDANT ABANDONS APPLICATION TO AMEND DEFENCE;
(2) COURT ORDERS CLARE REWCASTLE-BROWN TO PAY £41,400 TOWARDS DATO SERI TUAN GURU ABDUL HADI AWANG’S LEGAL COSTS
Following a 4-hour hearing before Mr Justice Dingemans in the High Court in London on the 30 April 2018, the Court has formally struck out the entirety of the Defendant, Clare Rewcastle-Brown’s, plea of “truth” (in other words, her case that the publication which Dato Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang is suing over was substantially true).
In addition, the Defendant (Clare Rewcastle Brown) has formally abandoned her application to amend her “truth” defence to rely on an audio recording of statements allegedly made by Ustaz Nik Abduh, a national committee member of PAS and former MP for Pasir Mas constituency. The Defendant has now indicated that she intends to try to put forward yet another draft defence relying on the recording – which would be her third attempt at a “truth” defence.
The Judge also refused the Defendant’s belated attempt to ask the Court to order that there be a separate trial on the question of whether readers of Sarawak Report would have understood the article complained of to refer to Dato Seri Tuan Guru. Tuan Guru’s legal team opposed that suggestion, which Tuan Guru saw as little more than an attempt by the Defendant to put off bringing the real issues in the case to trial.
The Defendant was also forced to abandon her attempt to strike out Tuan Guru’s claim on the question of reference.
These very positive developments reflect a remarkable capitulation by the Defendant, reflected in the fact that the Judge ordered her to pay £41,400 towards Tuan Guru’s legal costs, which she will have to pay within 14 days.
Tuan Guru is pleased to note that, in light of the delays in the progress of the case, the Judge has today taken hold of the management of the case and has set out a firm timetable, leading to a trial which is likely to take place in early April 2019.
DR. AHMAD SAMSURI MOKHTAR
Political Secretary to Dato Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang
