THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered former Padang Serai MP N. Gobalakrishnan to pay RM150,000 in damages to a couple over WhatsApp messages alleging that they cheated several businessmen.

Judicial commissioner Raja Ahmad Mohzanuddin Raja Mohzan made the ruling after allowing the couple’s suit against Gobalakrishnan.

When confirming the matter, the couple’s counsel, Rueben Mathiavaranam, said the judge also ordered Gobalakrishnan to pay RM40,000 in costs to S. Selvakumar, who is a captain with Malaysia Airlines, and his wife, R. Indrani, who is a former treasurer of Sungai Siput PKR.

Rueben said the judge ruled that the three impugned publications made by the defendant via WhatsApp on June 4, 2019 were defamatory against his clients.

“The court also rejected Gobalakrishnan’s counterclaim against Indrani due to lack of evidence,” he said.

In their statement of claim filed on November 7, 2019, the couple, among others, sought general damages, an injunction to restrain the defendant from further writing or publishing the impugned words, interest on damages, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court. – Bernama, February 23, 2023.