Pay immediately Mahfuz tells Sanusi
ALOR SETAR - Menteri Besar Kedah Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was given three options in settling the defamation lawsuit claim brought by Pakatan Harapan (PH) Kedah Chairman Datuk Mahfuz Omar.
Mahfuz said Muhammad Sanusi needs to immediately pay RM120,000 as decided by the Putrajaya Court of Appeal or he will face a bankruptcy notice that will be filed against him if he fails to do so.
He said the claim of RM120,000 will be increased to RM240,000 if Muhammad Sanusi intends to submit a delay or appeal regarding the court's decision.
"I will discuss with the lawyer in the near future to pursue appropriate actions including confiscating the assets of the Kedah Menteri Besar if he still delays the payment of the suit.
"I will wait for the lawyer's advice on whether to file bankruptcy against Sanusi or confiscate his property worth RM120,000," he said in a press conference at Wisma Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) Kedah.
On Tuesday, Muhammad Sanusi asked Mahfuz to refer and deal with his lawyer for any payment of damages because the case was handled by their respective lawyers.
However, Mahfuz stressed, it has been more than 14 days since the payment of the summons and Muhammad Sanusi should not have to wait to deal through a lawyer.
"Muhammad Sanusi has legal options. He can transfer the money directly to my account, which is RM120,000 plus RM15,000 as court costs and RM10,000 legal costs amountung to RM145,000. Then notify via WhatsApp and it's done," he added.
He said since the case in question has passed the due period, Mahfuz will ask the appointed lawyer to act.
"If Muhammad Sanusi wants to finish it through a lawyer, he can give the money to my lawyer and then the lawyer will hand it over to me, but he didn't do that either," he explained.
Mahfuz also said that the apology that Muhammad Sanusi should have issued publicly has not yet been done.
On April 23, the former Pokok Sena Member of Parliament reminded Muhammad Sanusi to pay damages of RM120,000 as decided by the Putrajaya Court of Appeal following Muhammad Sanusi's failure to settle the claim even though the payment period was set at 14 days from the judgment process.
Following that, Mahfuz did not rule out the possibility of increasing the claim from RM120,000 to RM240,000 if no follow-up action was taken by Muhammad Sanusi.
On April 3, Muhammad Sanusi failed in the appeal of the defamation suit filed by Mahfuz, instead Mahfuz's application to increase the compensation amount was approved from RM50,000 to RM120,000.
Mahfuz filed a lawsuit on 9 October 2019 based on a message made by Muhammad Sanusi through his Facebook account on July 30, 2019, which linked Mahfuz to the issue of the relocation of the Sport Toto gambling premises to the area.
