Sophian filed the suit in connection with Zuraida’s alleged defamatory remarks over his action in forcing a 12-year-old girl to quit a chess tournament last year because she wore a short skirt.
Judicial Commissioner Rohani Ismail set the date in chambers in the presence of lawyers Mohd Haris Abdullah, who represented Sophian, and Shahid Adli Kamarudin, for Zuraida.
Shahid, when met by reporters, said the court also set April 13 for case management.
Sophian, 44, filed the suit on Nov 20 last year, over Zuraida’s remarks on his action in asking the girl to quit a chess tournament held in Putrajaya between April 14 and 16 last year.
In the statement of claims, Sophian, who was the tournament director for the National Scholastic Chess Championship, stated that the remarks by Zuraida were published in newspapers and several news portals, including Malaysiakini and Sin Chew Daily, and these were intended to embarrass him as well as tarnish his reputation and integrity in local and international chess tournaments.
He claimed the remarks by Zuraida suggested that he was a “paedophile” and “became aroused when looking at girls in short skirts with the tendency to commit sexual abuse”.
He is seeking a court order for Zuraida to retract her statement and an injunction to prevent her or her agents from republishing the said words, as well as an apology from the PKR women’s wing chief.
Sophian is also seeking general, special exemplary and aggravated damages, as well as interests, cost and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Zuraida, in her defence statement filed last Jan 18, said her statement was fair comment and had no malicious intent.
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