A DEFAMATION suit brought by former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob against former Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam may be settled without a trial.

Lawyer Joshua Tan, representing Ismail, confirmed a settlement offer had been made after the case was mentioned in chambers today before High Court Judge Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh.

“Today’s case was postponed to January 5, 2023. There may be a potential settlement,” Tan said.

His statement was confirmed by Lokman’s lawyer S. Suresh.

Ismail alleges Lokman had on Aug 22 made defamatory statements in a video, “Bila Presiden Umno Panggil Tak Datang! Tapi PM Ada Masa Jumpa Mahathir – Lokman Adam (When Called by the Umno President, He Doesn’t Come! But the PM Has Time to See Mahathir – Lokman Adam)”.

He claimed the statements were malicious, defamatory and untrue, and uploaded on four social media accounts: Lokman Adam channel on Youtube, Lokman Noor Adam Official on Facebook, lokmanooradam on Instagram and datoklokmanadam on Tik Tok.

According to Ismail, Lokman said Ismail had met with Dr Mahathir Mohamad and planned or intended to plan with the former prime minister and other opposition political parties to remain as prime minister by turning his back and betraying Umno, which Ismail denied.

Ismail, 62, filed the suit on September 8, naming Lokman, 49, as the sole defendant.

On September 12, Ismail obtained an injunction against Lokman, requiring him to immediately delete all videos on his social media accounts that were the subject of the suit.

Meanwhile, on September 1, Lokman pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to two charges of making and initiating offensive communications about Ismaili and the former government on his Lokman Noor Adam Official Facebook page. – Bernama, November 29, 2022.