Former AF2 star wins suit against TV3

The High Court here Friday ordered TV3 and four others to pay damages, totalling RM250,000, to former Akademi Fantasia Season 2 star Nurullah Zawawi and her husband in a defamation suit over a report by "Melodi", an entertainment programme aired by the television station, on their marriage status two years ago.

In allowing the suit filed by Nurullah and husband, Mohd Munzil Muhamad, judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin also ordered the five defendants to pay costs of RM70,000 to the couple.

Besides TV3, the four defendants named in the suit were producer of the Melodi programme, Azman Abd Ghafar; journalist Michelle Wee Lili; Alt Media Sdn Bhd and Bustamam Zawawi, who is Nurul's brother.

Nurul and her husband filed the suit on Sept 5, 2011 after the television station, in its Melodi programme on June 26, 2011, issued a statement on their marriage and a visual referring to them, which they claimed were defamatory.

The couple claimed that the visual shown during the programme gave an impression that their marriage was not valid and that they had no respect for their parents.

Besides general, aggravated and exemplary damages, the couple, represented by lawyer David Dev Peter, also sought an injunction, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Nor Bee, in her decision, also said the marriage between Nurul and Mohd Munzil was valid as it was confirmed by the Hulu Langat Syariah Court.