Influencer and rapper Caprice has been ordered by the Sessions Court here to apologise and pay RM220,000 in damages to independent preacher Ebit Lew after being found liable for defamation in 2023.
Judge Zuhrina Mohamed Nor also ordered Caprice, whose real name is Ariz Ramli, 40, to remove seven statements he made together with Indonesian influencer Mondy Tattoo within 48 hours.
The court further prohibited the singer, known for his song Lenglui, from making any future comments or statements concerning Ebit, whose real name is Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, 42.
In the same judgment, the court dismissed Caprice’s counterclaim after finding it to be without merit.
The legal dispute stemmed from a video uploaded by Caprice, who is also a humanitarian activist, on September 15, 2023, featuring Mondy as a guest.
Ebit claimed that the contents of the video carried allegations that he had sexually harassed and taken advantage of Mondy. He also alleged that he had been portrayed as irresponsible and someone who exploited religion.
The plaintiff further claimed that Caprice, as the first defendant, had published the video maliciously without first seeking confirmation from him or his lawyers.
According to Ebit’s claim, the publication subsequently triggered a wave of negative comments, insults and abusive remarks from Caprice’s YouTube followers.
On September 29, 2023, police were reportedly set to call several individuals to assist investigations into allegations involving sexual harassment and defamation linked to Ebit, Mondy Tattoo and Caprice.
Ebit was represented by lawyer Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, while Caprice was represented by Mohd Rezan Ezra Muhammad Mosinal during the proceedings.
Following the court decision, Ebit expressed his gratitude in a Facebook post.
“Alhamdulillah, thank Allah. I won the lawsuit against Caprice. The court ordered him to apologise for the defamatory statements and pay a total of RM220,000 to me,” he said.
