New judge to hear Manjeet’s RM2.5mil suit against Gobalakrishnan

(The Star) - A RM2.5mil civil suit filed by a senior lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon against Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan and three others for allegedly defaming him last year, will be heard before a new High Court judge next month.

High Court Judge Dr Prasad Abraham informed counsels who represented plaintiff Manjeet Singh, Gobalakrishnan, Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd and Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Bhd (TV3) when the case was brought before him on Friday.

Counsel Amarick Singh acted for Manjeet, Hasnal Rezua Merican for Gobalakrishnan, Datuk Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Sarah Abishegam for Utusan Melayu and Lim Qi Si for TV3.

On Friday, the case was fixed for justice Dr Prasad to hear the matter. However, the judge informed the counsels that he would leave it to the new judge when he met them in chambers.

The judge would be transferred to Shah Alam Civil Division effective July 15.

The court, later, set July 3 for mention before the new High Court Judge justice Nor Bee Ariffin.
Manjeet had on Sept 26, last year, filed the suit against Gobalakrishnan, publisher Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd, its journalist Raja Syahrir Abu Bakar and TV3 over alleged defamatory remarks on his character.

He said the remarks implied that his conduct in the ongoing murder trial of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya, where he is lead counsel for accused N. Pathmanabhan, was designed to show weakness in national institutions.

He claimed the allegations made were designed to impute impropriety on his part by falsely and maliciously accusing him, including for implying that he represented Anwar in the sodomy trial.

Manjeet said Gobalakrishnan gave an interview to the media on Aug 16, in which he falsely made derogatory remarks against him.

He said Raja Syahrir had prepared a report of the interview and published by Utusan in its newspaper dated Aug 17, last year under the title, "Manjeet selalu burukkan kerajaan (Manjeet always smears the Government)", with reckless disregard to the truth of the contents.

He said a substantial part of the entire interview was broadcast on TV3 on Aug 16.