Court of Appeal slashes Malaysian Bar’s damages to Shafee to RM120,000

The Court of Appeal in Malaysia has slashed the damages awarded to lawyer Shafee Abdullah by the Malaysian Bar, reducing the compensation to RM120,000. The three-member bench, chaired by Justice Choo Kah Sing, dismissed Shafee's cross-appeal seeking to increase the original RM340,000 damages awarded by the High Court. The panel also reduced the RM200,000 damages for loss of reputation and injury to feelings to RM100,000, and set aside the RM100,000 for loss of professional opportunities and RM20,000 for mental stress and health-related consequences.

Despite noting illegalities in the Bar's actions, the bench maintained the RM20,000 in aggravated damages. The case originated from a February 2015 roadshow where Shafee spoke about the Federal Court's judgment in Anwar Ibrahim's Sodomy II case, which led to Anwar's conviction and subsequent pardon. Lawyers Tommy Thomas and VC George tabled a motion at the Bar's AGM, accusing Shafee of violating rules against seeking publicity for himself and seeking condemnation from the Bar.

However, the Federal Court allowed Shafee's appeal in 2021, and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision, ordering the Bar and Shafee to bear their own costs.