IGP seeks leave to initiate committal proceedings against Papagomo again

New Straits Times

07-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain has once again applied for leave from the High Court for a committal order against blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris to be arrested and imprisoned for contempt of court.
The top cop, in his second ex-parte notice of application filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on May 5, said this after Azri, also known as Papagomo, failed to obey two requirements as part of a committal order dated April 30.
On April 30, before High Court judicial commissioner Gan Techiong, Azri was required to make a public apology to Razarudin before the court with a statement agreed upon by both parties.
Azri had then read out the unreserved apology in court over two alleged defamatory statements made against Razarudin.
Azri was also required to publish the same apology together with the statement on all of his social media platforms, namely TikTok, YouTube, X and Telegram, where the defamatory and offensive content was originally published on Jan 14 and 15.
The apology must be published on Apr 30 and must remain posted for a minimum of seven days.
Azri was also required to delete the defamatory and offensive content that was published on Jan 14 and 15.
Based on documents obtained from the judiciary's system, Razarudin said Azri had not only failed to comply with the two other requirements despite being present in court during the hearing of the committal.
"At approximately 8.30pm on May 1, the defendant (Azri) intentionally published and/or caused to be published an online video via the social media platform TikTok(Papa Azri) and YouTube(Sir Azri), in which his statements were contrary with the written apology that was agreed upon and read before the court on April 30, as set out in the said order.
"The apology made by the defendant on April 30 was insincere and without remorse, despite being made unconditionally.
"Based on the statement published and/or disseminated by the defendant and the failure to remove the video publications dated Jan 14 and 15, he has thereby breached the April 30 committal order, which constitutes a second act of contempt against this court.
"The defendant's contempt of the committal order renders him liable to committal proceedings for contempt of court," said Razarudin.
Razarudin also sought for the cost of this application to be borne by Azri and any other reliefs the court deems fit and necessary.
The court set May 9 to hear Razarudin's application.
On Dec 26 last year, Razarudin filed a RM3 million lawsuit against Azri over alleged defamation, which also involved Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
On Dec 31 last year, Razarudin successfully blocked Azri from making defamatory statements against him.
On Feb 10, Razarudin obtained permission from the High Court to initiate committal proceedings against Azri.
He sought to have Azri imprisoned or fined for contempt of court after failing to comply with an injunction order issued on Jan 10, which prohibited the latter from publishing or disseminating defamatory statements about him on all social media platforms until the defamation suit is resolved.