New Delhi, Feb. 17 -- A defamation case by Malaysia's telecoms regulator against an Australian resident in Thailand was formally withdrawn from a Thai court on Monday after mediation, the sued man and his lawyer said.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. ...