R&B singer withdraws defamation suit against entertainment blog

KUALA LUMPUR: R&B singer and actor Wan Shades has withdrawn his defamation suit against the owner of entertainment blog Rotikaya for allegedly implying he had raped his “stepdaughter,” but may file a fresh one.

Wan Shades (pic), 44, whose real name is Mohamad Faizal Mohd Ali, had sought RM1mil in damages and an unspecified amount for aggravated and exemplary damages.

After the proceedings in chambers Monday, lawyer Mohamad Lokman Hakim Abd Rahman, who acted for the defendant, said High Court judge Justice Yeoh Wee Siam had allowed the withdrawal of the suit by the singer.

Mohamad Lokman said the plaintiff had withdrawn the suit with liberty to file it afresh, with costs set at RM3,500.

“The plaintiff has withdrawn it due to a legal matter," he told reporters here, declining to elaborate.

Wan Shades’ lawyer Nik Farhan Nik Mohamed Tahir confirmed the details, adding that he would file a fresh lawsuit as soon as possible.

In March last year, the lead singer of the music group ‘Shades’ told the media that he had initiated legal action to clear his name as the allegations had tarnished his reputation in the music industry.

Wan Shades said he has been involved in the entertainment industry for 22 years.

The bachelor, who said he does not even have a stepdaughter, added that he was badly affected by the defamation and had also lodged a police report on the same day in 2012 to deny the rape allegations.

In the statement of claim filed on March 31 last year, the singer had named Nor Hamzie Md Hambali, 32, as the sole defendant.

He said Nor Hamzie had on Feb 20, 2012 published a defamatory article against him on the entertainment blog Rotikaya, which was accessible to all Internet users.

In elaborating, he said the words had meant that he was capable of raping his stepdaughter, was a criminal and under the detention of the police.

The words also implied that he had no religious teachings, was irresponsible and of low morals, Wan Shades said.

He said the statement that referred to him was false and aimed to ruin his reputation.

“I never had a stepdaughter as alleged by the defendant,” said the singer, adding that he was never interrogated by police or arrested or charged over the alleged rape.

He said the allegations had been made without verifying the truth of the matter, causing him embarrassment within the entertainment industry, his family and society.

Besides that, he said, it also caused him professional and financial losses.

Wan Shades said that the blog owner failed to meet his demand for an apology and payment of damages, although his solicitor had sent the owner a letter on Oct 11, 2013.

Wan Shades said he had on March 8, 2012 written a complaint to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission over the matter, and it was suggested he take legal action against the blog owner.