BANGKOK (AP) — A defamation case by Malaysia’s telecoms regulator against an Australian resident in Thailand was formally withdrawn from a Thai court on Monday after mediation, the sued man and his lawyer said.
The case has caused concern among free speech advocates because it was seen as a form of cross-border repression.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, or MCMC, had already acknowledged in a statement earlier this month that it had reached a settlement agreement on Jan. 12, which would the drop criminal proceedings against Murray Hunter. That said it was also withdrawing a civil case in Malaysia against Hunter.
Hunter was sued in connection with articles he had posted on his Substack online newsletter.
"The Malaysian government’s use of SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation ) and willingness to engage in transnational repression signals a significant escalation in its willingness to silence critical voices,” IFEX, an international coalition of organizations promoting free expression, said in a statement in November.
It said that Malaysia's use of criminal defamation laws to target individuals beyond its borders is alarming as it serves to intimidate writers, artists and others from expressing views on issues of public interest and concern.
PEN International, Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists were among the groups that protested Hunter’s arrest.
While the complete mediation agreement is confidential, Hunter was able to tell The Associated Press aspects that were already on the public record. He said he made an apology and retracted about 10 articles, and the charge against him was withdrawn in the Bangkok South Criminal Court with no costs or penalties awarded.
The charge of defamation by publication is punishable by a maximum prison term of two years and a fine of 200,000 baht ($6,430).
He also said his Substack was unblocked in Malaysia.
MCMC said it was unable to offer fresh comment on Monday's court hearing because of the Lunar New Year holidays in Malaysia.
Hunter, who lives in southern Thailand, was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sept. 29, 2025, as he was about to board a flight to Hong Kong. He was jailed overnight and then released on 20,000 baht ($643) bail, and his passport was seized.
"I’ve got my passport back and I’m free to travel again in the next couple of days,” Hunter told the AP.
He said he was not totally satisfied with the resolution of the case because he felt he was treated unfairly under the law and the general threat of this type of lawsuit still existed. He said he will stay in Thailand and that he was working on a book about the type of SLAPP lawsuits he faced.
Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate. a Thai lawyer who helped Hunter's defense, said he agreed that the threat of transnational SLAPP suits remained in Thailand. He pointed out that as in Hunter's case, “the process is the punishment.”
FILE - Australian Murray Hunter talks to The Associated Press during an interview in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, file)
MILAN (AP) — After realizing his team would have to play in the qualification round at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Sweden coach Sam Hallam was quick to reference what Canada did 16 years ago after a rough start on home ice in Vancouver.
Canada also had to play the extra game and went on to win it all on Sidney Crosby's golden goal in overtime in the final against the United States. If the Swedes do the same this time, they will have earned every carat of their gold medals.
Sweden as the seventh seed has an incredibly difficult path through the men's hockey tournament, starting in the qualification playoffs on Tuesday against 10th-seeded Latvia. The winner of that game faces the unbeaten U.S. in the quarterfinals Wednesday night.
“We’re going to have to play ... one more game than some other teams, but that’s an opportunity for us to come together even more as a team, work on our details, work on our game as a unit out there,” forward Adrian Kempe said. “That’s just the way I’m seeing it.”
Sweden dropped out of the No. 3 spot only because it allowed a last-minute goal to Slovakia that changed who won the group based on a tiebreaker. That 5-3 victory Saturday was arguably the best Sweden has played thus far in Milan, from goaltender Jacob Markstrom out.
“Everyone contributed,” alternate captain Victor Hedman said. “Marky played great. A lot to build on and look forward to the next one.”
Hallam has a decision to make in net given the back-to-back scheduling. Markstrom may have played well enough to become Sweden's starter, but Filip Gustavsson could get the nod against Latvia.
“Let us see," Hallam said. "(Markstrom) showed good presence. I like the way he plays with the puck. He started a couple of breakouts for us. He felt big, felt solid, so he did a good impression on me, yeah.”
Switzerland beating Czechia in overtime Sunday on Dean Kukan's goal was a big one to play winless host Italy, which was outscored 19-4 in round-robin play. The Swiss should be able to get into the quarterfinals and face Finland, even after losing one of their top forwards, Kevin Fiala, to a leg injury that required surgery and ended his Olympics and probably his NHL season.
“We care about each other very much, and we care about winning," winger Timo Meier said. “This group we have here, we love playing with each other. We’re a really tight group.”
Much like Hallam, Switzerland coach Patrick Fischer has to decide whether to play 38-year-old national team goalie Leonardo Genoni back to back or go with backup Akira Schmid in what should be an easily winnable game.
The other team with what should be a safe path into the quarterfinals is Germany against France, which lost 10-2 to Canada on Sunday. France made things interesting against Czechia but like Italy went 0-3-0 and was outscored by 15 goals.
“We know what to expect, and we have to give our A-game,” France winger Sacha Treille said. "It’s just one hockey game, so everything can happen.”
Led by 2020 NHL MVP Leon Draisaitl, Germany lost to the U.S. on Sunday but still finds itself with a plausible path through to the semifinals. If Germany beats France, it would play third-seeded Slovakia on Wednesday.
Martin Necas was not happy after he and the Czechs lost to Switzerland, knowing what it would mean for their seeding. Denmark defeating Latvia thanks to a 33-save performance by Frederik Andersen moved it up in what's a positive bounce for Czechia.
“If we want to win, we have to get through everybody,” defenseman Radko Gudas said. “(We have) a lot of guys who have been around these type of games. For us that means playing smart, putting pucks in the right places and make the other team go 200 feet and make go through all of us at all times.”
Czechia has three NHL goaltenders, so Dan Vladar could start Tuesday to get Lukas Dostal ready for the biggest challenge of his life. The winner of the game faces the machine that is Canada — unquestionably the team to beat.
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Czechia's Tomas Hertl (48) is challenged by Switzerland's Damien Riat (9) during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between Switzerland and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Latvia's goalkeeper Arturs Silovs makes a save during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between Denmark and Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Sweden's head coach Sam Hallam skates during men's ice hockey practice at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Sweden's William Nylander, center, celebrates after scoring her side's third goal during a preliminary round match of men's ice hockey between Italy and Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
