A defamation suit filed by former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik against Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu for accusing him of committing a sexual offence was settled with the minister retracting the statement.

High Court judicial commissioner Aliza Sulaiman recorded the settlements in chambers, with no order as to cost, in the presence of lawyers Nasar Khan Mirbas Khan, representing Mohamad, and R Roshini for Rahim.

“The defendant (Mohamad) retracted the words as complained and the plaintiff (Rahim) withdrew the case. There was no order to cost,” said Nasar Khan when met by reporters.

The case had been fixed for management today.

Rahim filed the suit on Feb 6, 2017, stating that Mohamad had uttered the slanderous words against him, which he claimed were accusations, lies and baseless, in July 2016.

He had sought RM1.5mil in general damages, as well as aggravated damages, and an injunction to stop Mohamad from uttering or publishing similar words, either verbally, in print media or through the internet, and also for an apology from the Amanah president.

- Bernama