Gopal Sri Ram JCA:

[1] The appellant is an advocate and solicitor He was the second defendant in the court below. This is his appeal against the award of damages made against him in respect of the libel admittedly committed by him upon the respondent. The trial judge awarded a total sum of RM1,500,000 made up of RM500,000 as compensatory damages, RM500,000 as aggravated damages and a further RM500,000 as exemplary damages. The appellant complains that these awards are excessive.

[2] At the date of publication of the admitted libel, the respondent was the Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry. The appellant made a charge against the respondent that was of the gravest nature. He alleged that the respondent had acted corruptly in the discharge of his duties. This charge was made at a press conference called at the appellant's behest. The story was carried by two newspapers of the Chinese vernacular Later, the appellant repeated the defamatory words to a very limited audience _ three or four journalists _ outside the office of the Anti Corruption Agency where he had gone to lodge a report. He said that he had & boxes of evidence & against the respondent. As it turn