How did Chong describe the fate of RM11 billion in state funds?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Court of Appeal upheld Chong Chieng Jen’s defamation conviction over his claim about RM11 billion in state funds.
Chong Chieng Jen described RM11 billion in state funds as having disappeared into a “black hole.” The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, maintaining the High Court’s finding that his 2013 claims about the Sarawak government and the Sarawak Financial Authority (SFA) were defamatory.
The RM11 billion claim that led to the lawsuit
Chong filed the suit in 2013 after making claims about the Sarawak government’s state funds. He alleged that RM11 billion in state funds had vanished into a “black hole,” a characterisation that later became central to the defamation case.
The appellate outcome and damages
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel, upheld the High Court ruling that Chong defamed the Sarawak government and the SFA. It increased the damages awarded from RM150,000 to RM300,000, and ordered Chong to pay RM150,000 in costs to the respondents.
The timeline from High Court to Court of Appeal
The case went to trial in January 2021 and concluded in July 2021. In August 2022, the High Court ruled that the claims were defamatory, and the Court of Appeal later dismissed Chong’s appeal.
What Chong sought during the appeal
During the appeal, Chong’s lawyer, Michael Kong, argued for a retrial. He contended that the trial judge erred in setting aside a subpoena for former state finance minister II Wong Soon Koh, which prevented him from testifying for the defence.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How did Chong describe the fate of RM11 billion in state funds?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends