Former Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff today filed a defamation suit against former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan over statements he made in a press conference last year.

Ramli, 61, alleged the statements by Musa, which was published by the media, including one on Free Malaysia Today (FMT) was ‘defamatory, slandorous, and contained lies’.

The suit was filed this morning at the Shah Alam High Court registry through the firm of Vin Partnerships.

In his statement of claim, Ramli alleged that Musa, who said Ramli is seen as a “white knight” and himself a “black knight” in the Dec 10 press conference, had tarred his reputation.

These words, Ramli alleged, portrayed him to the public at large as "dishonest, corrupted, had committed an offence punishable by a prison term" and "had fabricated and made false declarations regarding his assets and accumulated wealth".

Ramli also claimed Musa’s statements were “bereft of the truth, vexatious, specious, fallacious and wholly uncalled for”. It was also alleged to be “grossly negligent, reckless, deliberate, malicious and aimed to lower Ramli's esteem in the eyes of the public, both locally and internationally and exposed Ramli to public hatred, scorn, odum, opprobrium, contempt and ridicule.”

Musa, claimed Ramli, was also motivated by malice in the defendant’s alleged “pursuit of seeking cheap publicity sensationalism for political and other purposes”.

Ramli said that Musa had issued such statements despite the fact that the former had already been investigated by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission, and acquitted of all charges.

The suit also pointed out that Ramli had made 35 asset declarations in his career as a police officer, all approved by the deputy IGPs, IGPs and the Home Affairs Ministry.

He contended that these words were “wholly unjustified and unwarranted” and did not give him an opportunity to defend himself. Ramli also said that Musa intended to create mischief and possible harm to his person and family and other interests.

The former top cop is seeking an unspecified amount of general, aggravated and exemplary damages.

He is also seeking an injunction to restrain Musa from repeating or cause the publication of those "defamatory" words.