KUALA LUMPUR (April 3): The Court of Appeal (COA) on Monday (April 3) increased the quantum of damages, which Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has to pay former Pokok Sena Member of Parliament Datuk Mahfuz Omar, to RM120,000.

This follows a three-member bench led by Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera allowing Mahfuz's cross-appeal, and dismissing the appeal filed by Sanusi.

Besides Vazeer, the other judges who unanimously allowed the appeal were Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya and Datuk Wong Kian Kheong.

Vazeer said the bench agreed there was no error by the High Court judge in earlier finding that Sanusi had committed defamation, but found the quantum of damages awarded was low, and hence agreed to increase it.

In addition, the bench ordered Sanusi to pay RM10,000 costs to Mahfuz, a former deputy human resources minister.

In Monday’s proceedings, Sanusi was represented by counsel Yusfarizal Yusoff, while Norazmir Zakaria appeared for Mahfuz.

Both parties confirmed the outcome when contacted by The Edge.

In November 2021, judicial commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Arief Emran Arifin directed Sanusi to pay damages to Mahfuz.

This followed Sanusi’s comments on his Facebook page dated July 30, 2019 linking Mahfuz, as the then Pokok Sena MP, to the transfer of a Sports Toto outlet to the area.

Mahfuz, who filed the suit against Sanusi on Oct 9, 2019, claimed that Sanusi posted a seven-minute video showing a group of people protesting against the opening of the Sports Toto outlet in Pokok Sena holding banners with Mahfuz’s name.