Former minister’s defamation case against Papagomo will proceed to trial after mediation talks fail to reach a settlement.
KUALA LUMPUR: The defamation suit filed by former minister Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar against blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, known as Papagomo, will proceed to trial.
This follows the failure of mediation to resolve the case amicably at the High Court here.
Lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, representing Mohd Na’im, said the defendant did not agree to the settlement terms.
The trial dates set for September 21 and 24 will therefore proceed as scheduled.
The court has set March 6 for case management to confirm if any settlement is reached before then.
Mediation proceedings lasted for an hour and were attended by both parties and their lawyers before Judge Datuk Kenneth Yoong Ken Chinson St James.
Mohd Na’im filed the suit in October 2023 over a post on the defendant’s ‘Sir Azri’ Facebook page from September 2023.
The post contained a video clip alleging the plaintiff, as then religious affairs minister, took no positive action for Islam’s well-being.
It further suggested he was a religious fanatic unconcerned with the Malay Muslim community’s stability due to an alleged sexual case.
The plaintiff claims the statements damaged his reputation, dignity, and honour in the public eye.
