Syariah Chief Judge wants RM30mil from Lokman after Umno politician fails to respond to suit
(NST) – The Chief Syariah Court Judge of Malaysia, who was accused of committing lewd acts on a widow and outraging the modesty of a married woman by lying naked in her bedroom, has demanded RM30 million from former Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam.
This was after Lokman failed to file his defence against the lawsuit filed by the judge, Datuk Setia Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, 54.
The application for the default judgment was filed by Messrs Akberdin & Co at the High Court registry here yesterday.
Counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader, appearing for Na’im, confirmed this when contacted by the New Straits Times.
It is learnt that Lokman had failed to file his defence despite the High Court giving him an extended deadline to do so until last Friday.
Na’im is seeking RM10 million each for exemplary, aggravated and punitive damages with five per cent interest to be included until the judgment sum is paid.
A default judgment occurs when the defendant in a legal case fails to respond to a court summons or does not appear in court.
When this occurs, a court may rule in favour of the plaintiff by default.
On Feb 7, judge Rozana Ali Yusoff ordered Lokman’s lawyers to file his defence by Feb 11, and for Na’im to file his reply, if necessary, by Feb 25.
Rozana also extended an ex parte injunction obtained by Na’im against Lokman from making comments and removing the alleged defamatory remarks against the judge.
Na’im had filed the suit against Lokman after the Umno politician implicated him in a sexual harassment case, including one where he was said to be lying nude in a bedroom of a woman’s home.
In his suit, which was filed on Jan 19, Na’im claimed Lokman had defamed him by making the slanderous statements during two Facebook live posts between Jan 10 and Jan 13.
Na’im, who is also Syariah Judiciary Department Director-General, claimed that Lokman also uploaded the live broadcast on his Youtube on Jan 10 and Jan 14, respectively.
He claimed the posting depicted him as not being a credible leader to set a good example to the community and that the posting had tarnished the Syariah Judiciary Department’s image and institution.
