On 25 August 2011, a settlement was reached in the defamation suit by Japanese-company Asahi Kosei against human rights defender and lawyer Charles Hector Fernandez following a trial which lasted six months.
Further Information
Under the terms of the settlement, Charles Hector Fernandez must pay 2 Malaysian Ringgits (less than €1) in costs and damages to the Asahi Kosei company. As a part of the settlement, he is required to publicise an apology which will be printed as a half-page advertisement in two national newspapers, The Star, and The Nanyang Siang Pau, which will cost him 22,000 Malaysian Ringits (approximately €5,100). In addition, he has to pay 10,000 Malaysian Ringits (€2,310) to the court in legal fees.
Charles Hector Fernandez is a prominent human rights defender and lawyer in Malaysia. He was sued for US$3.3 million (appx.