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©The
Star (Used by permission)
IPOH: Despite knowing they were going to be charged with corruption, two Perak
exco members filed a RM100mil suit against the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) for
defamatory statements involving bribes and sexual gratification.
Lawyers acting on behalf of Changkat Jering assemblyman Kapt (Rtd) Mohd Osman
Mohd Jailu and Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi filed the papers at the
High Court registry here at 9.05am yesterday.
They named as defendants the ACA, ACA director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said
Hamdan, Perak ACA director Samsiah Abu Bakar and Star Publications (M) Berhad.
While general damages for libel, costs and other relief are being sought from
Star Publications, the exco men are demanding RM100mil from the first three
defendants for unlawful arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution,
malfeasance and libel, along with aggravated damages, exemplary damages and
costs.
The PKR exco men are accusing the ACA, Ahmad Said and Samsiah of orchestrating
their arrests, on Aug 19 and 20, and acting maliciously in releasing to the
media a report with “false allegations of bribery with monetary and sexual
gratification”.
According to the statement of claim, the purpose was to destroy Mohd Osman and
Jamaluddin’s political careers and tarnish the image of PKR into influencing the
outcome of the Permatang Pauh by-election.
The exco men believed that the defendants knew the false allegations would
receive national media coverage, and that they knew the allegations were false
yet released the report.
The plaintiffs also said Star Publications had on Aug 21 “falsely and
maliciously” published the article headlined “Sex and Bribes” with photographs
of both men on the front page.
Denying that they had received bribes or sexual gratification as alleged in the
ACA report, the two men said they had never “received over RM120,000 from a
contractor of the project” nor had been receiving money “many times”.
Mohd Osman also denied that he was arrested at a hotel here on Aug 19 at 5.40pm,
and that he had a bag containing RM100,000 in his possession.
“In consequence, the plaintiffs’ reputations have been seriously injured and
they have suffered considerable distress and embarrassment,” said the suit.
According to the statement of claim, Mohd Osman was at the Kluang Station Café
here on Aug 19 about 6pm to meet Kapt (Rtd) Usaili Alias, who is also the state
PKR operations director for the Permatang Pauh by-election.
The statement said minutes after Perak State Development Corporation technician
Ruslan Sahat sat down at their table, a man known as Imran arrived to join them.
Imran, claimed the statement, was carrying a black briefcase and was accompanied
by a female companion.
As Mohd Osman had to leave for the by-election campaign, he decided to settle
the bill but Imran indicated that he would pay for the drinks.
Imran then placed the briefcase on their table and opened it, showing them the
cash inside.
Just as Mohd Osman got up to leave, ACA “agents or servants” arrived to detain
him, said the statement.
Meanwhile, Jamaluddin also claimed that the ACA also “wrongfully arrested and
detained” him when he was asked to give his statement at the state ACA office
here on Aug 20 at about 10am.
After filing the suit, lawyer Mohamad Asri Othman said the legal team had
received instructions from the PKR headquarters to name Star Publications as the
only media besides the ACA defendants.
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Circular No 304/2008
