KUALA LUMPUR (July 31): Mi Technovation Bhd said its former chief operating officer cum general manager Chin Yong Keong has claimed in a court document that the group had defamed him in statements relating to his employment history.

Chin, who is now the chief executive officer cum executive director of newly listed Edelteq Holdings Bhd, made the claim in a counterclaim in response to Mi Technovation's lawsuit against him filed at the High Court in Penang on May 14.

In a bourse filing on Monday (July 31), Mi Technovation said its solicitors were served with the defence to the suit as well as the counterclaim on July 28.

“Chin counterclaimed for defamation against the company for the company’s announcement to Bursa Malaysia Securities on May 17, and the summary write-up prepared by the company's solicitors attached to the announcement. Chin also counterclaimed that the writ filed by the company was an abuse of process,” said the Penang-based semiconductor equipment manufacturer.

Chin is seeking RM3 million in general damages, RM2 million in aggravated damages and another RM2 million in punitive damages from Mi Technovation over the alleged defamation. He is also seeking a permanent injunction to restraining the group from publishing the alleged defamatory words.

“The company has sought legal advice on the counterclaim and the company’s solicitors are of the view that the company has a strong defence to the counterclaim,” said Mi Technovation.

Mi Technovation had on May 17 claimed that Chin's employment history with the group in his profile in Edelteq documents is misleading.

Edelteq's listing on the ACE Market, initially scheduled for May 30, was postponed to June 7 amid the tussle between Chin and Mi Technovation.

Shares in Mi Technovation closed one sen or 0.62% higher at RM1.62 on Monday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM1.46 billion.

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