KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain successfully blocked controversial blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, from making defamatory statements against him.
High Court Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong allowed the top cop's injunction application against Azri after concluding that the former had established the presence of serious issues warranting a trial.
The injunction application by Razarudin relates to a defamation lawsuit he filed on Dec 26 over Wan Muhammad Azri's remarks, which labeled him as a 'respected prisoner prostitute' and a 'sycophant' to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Techiong issued the injunction prohibiting Wan Muhammad Azri from publishing or disseminating defamatory statements about Razarudin on all social media platforms until the defamation suit is resolved.
Additionally, he issued another ex-parte injunction preventing Wan Muhammad Azri from publishing or facilitating the republication of statements, videos, posts, comments, or any references about the plaintiff (Razarudin).
The statements, videos, posts, and comments in question pertain to Razarudin's position as Inspector-General of Police and his personal character, whether in writing, verbally, or online via social media platforms and messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp.
Wan Muhammad Azri was also ordered to retract, remove, and delete video posts dated Dec 14, 15, 20, and 22 on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Telegram, and X that contained defamatory remarks about Razarudin.
"The injunction against the defendant is warranted and should be issued by this court immediately to prohibit and restrain the defendant as sought by the plaintiff.
"Hence, the court grants the plaintiff's application for the injunction until further orders from this court," he said.
On Dec 28, Razarudin's lawyer, Raam Kumar, informed the media that a notice of the lawsuit had been served to Wan Muhammad Azri, named as the defendant.
The plaintiff is seeking damages for oral and written defamation, general damages, aggravated or exemplary damages, and special damages.
It was reported that police had recorded a statement from Wan Muhammad Azri regarding his allegedly defamatory and insulting remarks against the Inspector-General of Police and the security forces.
Wan Muhammad Azri had his statement recorded on Dec 19 at the Setapak police station.
The case is being investigated under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, Sections 500 and 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.