KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has ordered blogger Papagomo to pay a businessman RM500,000 in damages over a defamation suit.

The ruling was made Friday after the court identified Papagomo as Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris.

Businessman Abdul Razak Mohd Noor had filed a RM10mil defamation suit against Papagomo, claiming that the blogger had implied he was a liar who earned millions of ringgit in the Commonwealth Games.

In his ruling, Judicial Commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera ordered Papagomo to pay RM200,000 in general damages and RM300,000 in exemplary damages.

He also granted an injunction to stop Papagomo from further defaming Abdul Razak.

JC Vazeer ordered Papagomo to pay the businessman RM50,000 in costs.

In his judgment, JC Vazeer said Papagomo was not remorseful of his actions and this was reflected in his conduct when he testified in the defamation trial.

He said he hoped the award would serve as a lesson to bloggers who uploaded defamatory articles in anonymity.

-THE STAR