Out of court settlement for UMNO-Tian Chua defamation suit

The defamation suit filed by UMNO against Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Tian Chua and two other individuals over an article on the Lahad Datu, Sabah intrusion was settled out of court here today.

High Court Judge Rosilah Yop recorded the consent judgement without cost in chambers after the parties reached a mutual agreement.

Umno Executive Secretary Datuk Ab Rauf Yusoh's counsel Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun told reporters that his client had withdrawn the suit.

Met outside the court, Tian Chua said they regretted the publication of the article titled 'Insiden Tembakan di Lahad Datu Konspirasi Terancang Umno-Tian' (Lahad Datu Shooting Incident Planned Conspiracy By Umno - Tian) which was not intended to involve Umno.

On April 11 last year, Ab Rauf filed the suit naming Tian Chua, KeadilanDaily.com editor, Fazallah Pit and the author of the article, Aisha Geoffrey as the defendants over its posting on the daily's portal on March 1 2013.

The judge also recorded Fazallah and Aisha's agreement to remove the article from the portal.