High Court Orders Chegubard, YouTuber to Pay RM550,000 to Farhash Over Defamation

PKR Information Chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak during a previous court appearance. The High Court has ordered Chegubard and a YouTuber to jointly pay him RM550,000 in damages for defamation.

KUALA LUMPUR : The High Court today ordered political activist Chegubard and a YouTuber to jointly pay RM550,000 in damages to PKR Information Chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak after finding them liable for defamation.

The court ruled that statements published in online videos and social media content had tarnished Farhash’s reputation and were not supported by credible evidence. The remarks were deemed defamatory and made with reckless disregard for the truth.

In delivering the decision, the judge said the defendants had failed to justify the allegations and did not exercise due diligence in verifying the claims before publishing them to a wide audience. The court also noted that the content had reached a substantial number of viewers, amplifying the damage to Farhash’s personal and professional standing.

Farhash had filed the lawsuit following the circulation of videos and posts that allegedly linked him to improper conduct. He maintained that the accusations were baseless, malicious and had caused serious harm to his reputation, emotional well-being and career.

The court awarded RM300,000 in general damages, RM200,000 in aggravated damages and RM50,000 in costs, bringing the total sum payable to RM550,000.

In addition, the court ordered both defendants to remove all defamatory content related to Farhash from their platforms and to refrain from publishing any similar statements in the future.

Farhash welcomed the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the importance of responsible speech and accountability in the digital space. He added that freedom of expression must be exercised within the bounds of the law and should not be used to spread unverified or harmful allegations.

Chegubard and the YouTuber were not present in court when the decision was delivered. Their legal representatives said they would study the judgment before deciding on any further legal action.