KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court will decide on June 20 on blogger Papagomo's bid to stay a ruling ordering him to pay RM850,000 to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Judicial Commissioner Rosilah Yop fixed the date after hearing submissions by parties in chambers.
Speaking to reporters later, Anwar's lawyer Shahid Adli said that Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, identified by the court as Papagomo, represented himself.
"He (Papagomo) provided written submissions to the court. He had submitted himself before the judicial commissioner," he added.
Wan Muhammad Azri confirmed to the media over the matter.
JC Rosilah had on Feb 28, held that Anwar had proven that Wan Muhammad Azri was in fact Papagomo and that the defamatory statements had referred to the PKR leader.
JC Rosilah awarded Anwar RM800,000 in general damages and RM50,000 in costs after hearing a full trial.
She held that Papagomo had abused the use of the Internet, adding that a fair and reasonable amount of damages should be given to compensate Anwar.
In her judgment, JC Rosilah said that the award was based on facts of the case, Anwar's standing, the defamatory statements which contained vicious and vulgar language were published widely and no apology on the blogger's part over the matter.
Wan Muhammad Azri, who is also Rakyat News editor, testified in January that he was not Papagomo and that he was not the owner of the blog.
In his suit filed on March 21 last year, Anwar said the blogger, 31, had implied that he was engaged in indecent acts with the man.
The Permatang Pauh MP said the blogger had connected his blog to a weblink containing a series of images, adding that the words implied that he was a person not fit to hold public office and was an immoral and irresponsible leader.
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