Red Shirts leader Jamal was scheduled to take the stand today.

But Maria’s lawyer Latheefa Koya said a court interpreter had informed parties that Justice Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab was on leave to attend to personal matters, and that the hearing scheduled for today and tomorrow had been vacated.

“A case management will be held on March 15 to determine the new trial dates,” she told reporters.

Meanwhile Jamal’s lawyer V Mugunthan said his client yesterday filed an application to call two former top cops, Mohammed Hanif Omar and Abdul Rahim Nor, to give evidence.

“However, Maria is objecting to the application to include Hanif and Rahim as Jamal’s witnesses,” he said, adding that the application would likely be disposed of before the trial continued.

Latheefa said Maria was objecting as Jamal had given late notice, and that the testimonies of Hanif and Rahim were not relevant to the case.

Johor PKR chief Hassan Karim and police officer Superintendent Tham Lai Kuan are also slated to take the stand.

Yesterday, former inspector-general of police Kalid Abu Bakar and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad took the stand.

The suit came about after Jamal allegedly slandered Bersih during a press conference outside the Putra World Trade Centre on Sept 28, 2016.

Maria also claimed that on Oct 4 that year, Jamal had uttered similar slanderous words against Bersih during a media conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters compound.

In her statement of claim filed on Oct 7, Maria said she had been brought into public scandal and had her reputation and good name tarnished.

She is seeking general and aggravated damages, as well as an injunction to stop Jamal from uttering or publishing similar words, either verbally, in print, or online.

Jamal is relying on justification and fair comment as defence.

No explosive statement from Dr M at Maria’s suit against Jamal

2012 Bersih rally was to topple government, ex-IGP tells court