So that's what happened to Lil' Kev

Lil’ Kev wins Astro suit

KUALA LUMPUR: Popular deejay Kevin Arokiasamy, better-known as “Lil’ Kev” who formerly co-hosted the Morning Show, won his breach of contract lawsuit against Astro’s Airtime Manage­ment & Programming Sdn Bhd.

High Court Judicial Comm­issioner Justice Rosilah Yop awarded a declaration to Lil’ Kev that a letter by Airtime Manage­ment dated Aug 28, 2003, meant that the defendant had violated the terms of an agrement.

Justice Rosilah issued a declaration that the violation of the terms meant that he could terminate the agreement and claim for damages.

She declared that the letter and its order was a modification to the terms of the agreement which required his consent.

The judge has ordered that damages be assessed after hearing evidence from Lil’ Kev and three witnesses of the defendant.

In his suit filed on Dec 15, 2004, Lil’ Kev claimed that he had entered into an agreement with the defendant on Aug 29, 2002 where he consented to serve its radio station hitz.fm for two years.

His salary for the duration of the contract was RM24,000 per month for the first year and RM26,000 each month the second year.

He said the dispute occurred when he was directed to transfer to the afternoon shift which he felt violated the terms of the agreement.

Lil’ Kev has been co-hosting the Morning Show since 1997.

In a statement of defence filed on Feb 21, 2005, the defendant stated that although it reserved the right to modify, add to or eliminate all or any part of benefits at any time, it had offered relevant incentives to Lil’ Kev.

Speaking to reporters later, his lawyer Isa Aziz Ibrahim said the defendant had no right to transfer his client to the afternoon shift as it violated the terms of the agreement.

When contacted by The Star, Lil’ Kev, 39, said he was relieved by the judgment.

“Normally, corporate companies are not favourable to us. It should protect the talent,” he said.

He said the judgment would be “a sort of protection for deejays so that they will not be easily pushed around”.