Chief Syariah judge Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar has filed for a judgment in default (JID) in his lawsuit against former Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam who allegedly implicated the judge in accusations of sexual harassment involving a Datin.

The application was filed through Messrs Akberdin & Co at the High Court registry on Monday (Feb 14).

When contacted on Tuesday (Feb 15), Mohd Na'im's lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader confirmed the filing.

The JID application was filed as the defendant (Lokman) had not filed in his defence in the case.

If a defendant fails to enter a defence within 14 days from the date the writ of summons was served on the defendant, the plaintiff is entitled to apply to the court for a JID without the need for a trial.

It was understood that Lokman had been given an extension of time to file his defence, which ended on Friday (Feb 11).

On Jan 17, Mohd Na’im filed the suit against Lokman, alleging that Lokman had defamed him (Mohd Na'im) by making a statement during two Facebook Live sessions on the "Lokman Noor Adam Official" account on Jan 10 and 13.

The allegations against the judge were on sexual harassment of several women, including a "Datin".

The plaintiff claimed that the defendant uploaded the live sessions on his YouTube channel on Jan 10 and 14 and also uploaded three posts against him on Facebook on Jan 11 and 13.

Mohd Na’im said the defamatory statement had meant to, among others, paint him as a person who manipulated religion, a person who failed to be a credible leader with good morals and had tarnished the image of the Syariah judiciary department as an institution.

He claimed the live sessions and posts had been spread to third parties and the defendant’s Facebook and YouTube accounts could be viewed and commented on by the public.

He further claimed the defendant made the defamatory statements with the intention for the same statements to be published locally and internationally through print and electronic media.

Mohd Na’im said a police report was lodged on Dec 12, 2021, to deny the allegations from the ‘Datin’ against him and he had also lodged a police report against Lokman.

The plaintiff issued a letter of demand dated Jan 13 against the defendant for the latter to retract his defamatory statement, delete the Facebook posts and apologise publicly within 24 hours but until today, the defendant had remained silent.

As a result, the plaintiff claimed the defamatory statements had tarnished his reputation and his image, and demeaned his integrity and status in the eyes of the public.

He is seeking a court order for the defendant to take down the video and posts as well as an injunction to restrain the defendant from republishing the posts as well as an apology.

The plaintiff wants general damages in an amount to be assessed by the court, as well as exemplary (RM10mil), aggravated (RM10mil) and punitive damages (RM10mil), amounting to RM30mil, with interests and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.

The issue first came to light when a woman lodged a police report against a top Syariah judge, implicating him with allegations of sexual harassment that allegedly took place at her own home.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by NURBAITI HAMDAN

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]