PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur High Court has ordered a TikTok user to pay Rosmah Mansor RM100,000 for defaming her by claiming she was involved in black magic and bomohs (shamans).
Justice Ahmad Shahrir Salleh made the decision after the defendant, Ku Hilmie Ku Din, 35, failed to file a memorandum of appearance to respond to Rosmah’s suit by the stipulated date.
During the proceedings, held online via Zoom, Shahrir said the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak had successfully established her claim against Ku Hilmie, Berita Harian reported.
The RM100,000 was for both general and aggravated damages, he said.
“The claim for exemplary damages is not allowed since there is no solid evidence to support such an award,” the judge added.
Rosmah filed the lawsuit on Sept 19, 2023, seeking RM1 million in damages from the TikTok account holder for a loss of reputation over his claim.
She claimed that the defendant had, six months earlier, uploaded a video on his TikTok account containing false and defamatory statements about her.
The impugned statements accused her of committing sinful acts and being involved in rituals involving the devil and bomohs. They also accused her of practising polytheism.
Rosmah said the statements damaged her reputation as the wife of Malaysia’s sixth prime minister and a patron of various charitable organisations in the country.
She also claimed they had caused her to be viewed negatively by the public, and to be ridiculed and insulted, as well as tarnished her reputation as a prominent public figure.
