Former coordinator of the Citizens’ Security Programme Khemraj Rai is suing Kaieteur News over articles published by the newspaper which highlighted an investigation by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) into alleged financial improprieties.
Rai is seeking damages in excess of $100M after obtaining an ex-parte injunction against the defendants from printing or publishing words contained in articles of the Kaieteur News dated June 14, 15, 18 and 19, 2013.
Khemraj Rai
The articles in question are: (1) “US$19M Citizen’s Security Programme…IDB investigates fraud-Coordinator Khemraj Rai under probe”; (2) “Citizen’s Security Prog. Investigation…Rohee: ‘Let the IDB deal with that’-says Khemraj Rai resigned before investigation started”; (3) “Citizen’s Security Programme…Police probing Khamraj Rai over forged contracts’ and (4) “Citizen’s Security Programme probe….IDB serious about fraud and corruption”.
Apart from the Editor and Publisher of the Kaieteur News, Rai is also suing the alleged whistleblower Viddiadat Jaisari.
In his affidavit in support of his motion, Rai stated that the allegations made against him by Jaisari have no basis in fact. He claimed that the intention of the articles is to create the impression that he was forging contracts, committing fraud, and his dealings were dishonest.
He noted that he did have a misunderstanding with Jaisari, after which they had an amicable meeting at which Jaisari agreed that the allegations contained in a previous letter were false and malicious.
Rai’s affidavit stated that in a subsequent letter, Jaisari apologised for the said allegations and he further retracted “every malicious and false statement” he had made previously.
The matter was filed on July 2nd before Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious, and the defendants have up to July 23rd to respond.