KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Sultan Ismail Petra told the High Court today that the slanderous words hurled against him by his wife Manohara Odelia Pinot carried the meaning that he was in the wrong and was responsible for raping, abusing and torturing her. 

Tengku Muhammad Fakhry said the words also meant he had sexually abused his wife, abducted, confined and prevented her from communicating with her mother Daisy Fajarina, and in fact, the words portrayed him to be a wild beast.

He vehemently denied using violence on his wife, who had been a model in Indonesia, and described their marital relationship as very good and that he loved her very much.

Tengku Muhammad Fakhry said since he married Manohara on Aug 26, 2008, his wife never showed any signs that she was unhappy living at the Mahkota palace in Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu, till nine months after their marriage when she suddenly returned to Indonesia without his permission.

"All my family members, other members of the Kelantan royal household, and palace workers are witnesses of our close relationship," he said when testifying in the court proceedings to determine the quantum of damages that should be awarded to him in his RM105 million defamation suit against his wife and mother-in-law.

In the proceedings held in chambers, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry testified by reading out a witness statement that was signed by him, before Senior Assistant Registrar Noordura Mohamed Din.

The statement was marked as material evidence in the case. 

After hearing his testimony, Noordura set Feb 24 to hear submissions from lawyer Mohd Haaziq Pillay, who is representing the prince in the suit.

A horde of journalists, press photographers and television camera crews had gathered at the court since early morning for the arrival of Tengku Muhammad Fakhry, 32. The prince arrived at 10.50am and while expressing thanks to media personnel present, quickly left the court premises once today's proceedings
were over.

He had filed the suit on July 20, 2009, claiming Manohara and her mother had falsely and maliciously defamed him at press conferences they held between April
and June last year.

On Nov 5, 2009, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry obtained a judgement in default favouring him after the defendants failed to appoint new counsel to fight the case following the law firm of Messrs Fakrul Hisham Abdullah & Associates withdrawing from acting for them.

Earlier, on Oct 29, 2009, Senior Assistant Registrar Shazali Hidayat Shariff had given Manohara and her mother till Nov 5, 2009, to appoint new counsel or risk judgement being issued in default.

In his witness statement, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry had also said that as a result of their actions, his reputation and integrity as a prince and the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan (third in line to the throne) was tarnished and that he had lost the faith and respect people had for him.

He said he was also accused of causing a diplomatic row between Malaysia and Indonesia, so much so, Indonesians carried out street protests claiming Malaysians were abusing and torturing the country's citizens in Malaysia.

Tengku Muhammad Fakhry said the stress he underwent as a result caused him to skip official state functions and was also embarassed because he had become a laughing stock among the public, friends began to shun him, and others ended business relationships with him.

"I might not be able to rebuild my reputation, which I had carefully nurtured and whatever damages are awarded, probably cannot undo the damage," he said, adding that he also felt ashamed before his father who had to hear the accusations made against him and at a time when his father was ill. 

He further said the actions by Manohara and her mother could also be a conspiracy to cause his downfall and deny his rights at the Kelantan palace and to be dropped from the succession list. -- Bernama