KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 13): The then-inspector general of police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador had already denied that former finance minister Lim Guan Eng's son had been arrested at Changi Airport, Singapore, allegedly for attempting to bring in RM2 million into the neighbouring country without proper declarations, the High Court heard on Tuesday. 

"[The then-] IGP made a statement that [my] son was not in Singapore and confirmed that this allegation is defamatory and completely false," said the DAP chief, referring to Abdul Hamid's statement in March 2020. 

Guan Eng reiterated this while testifying in his defamation suit against former Umno Youth executive council member Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris over Facebook comments made four years ago. 

The former Penang chief minister and his son, Clint Lim Whay Chau, filed the suit against Wan Azri in October 2021, for allegedly spreading "malicious lies" and false news about them.

They claim that the blogger, under the Facebook account "Papa Azri", had falsely alleged that Guan Eng had flown to Singapore around Feb 29, 2020, after Way Chau had allegedly taken RM2 million in undeclared cash into the neighbouring country and was allegedly hauled up at the airport.

In his testimony, Guan Eng stressed that it could be deduced that Wan Azri is the owner and operator of the account, based, among others, on Facebook live posts where the blogger appeared to be posting through the "Papa Azri" account. 

Guan Eng also cited previous cases where the court had ruled that Wan Azri is indeed "Papagomo". 

This is pertinent, as in his defence, Wan Azri had denied that he was the infamous blogger "Papagomo". 

On the stand on Tuesday, Guan Eng also said that it was widely known that he was very much in Malaysia around February 2020, as he was in the midst of the "Sheraton Move" political crisis which saw the fall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, and Perikatan Nasional (PN) taking over the reigns. 

Guan Eng also said that he was seeking around RM3 million in damages, as this was not the first time that the blogger had published false statements against him and his family. He said the amount was also to serve as a deterrent. 

In this trial, Guan Eng and his son are represented by Simon Murali, while Wan Azri is represented by Logen Eskandar.

The trial before Judicial Commissioner Eddie Yeo Soon Chye continues on Wednesday, when Whay Chau is expected to take the stand.
 

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