Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
Businessman wants KN publisher, Editor jailed for contempt
Publisher Glenn Lall, Clifton Bacchus and Editor in Chief Adam Harris
City businessman Clifton Bacchus, through his attorneys, has moved to the court to have the Publisher and Editor in Chief of the Kaieteur News, cited for contempt.
The motion which was filed last week is seeking to have Publisher Mohan Lall aka Glenn Lall and Editor in Chief Adam Harris committed to the Georgetown Prison for breaching the order of Chief Justice Ian Chang with regards to an injunction obtained by Bacchus
The Chief Justice had on March 7 this year, issued an order restraining Lall and Harris and their servants or agents, from further publishing what was described as libelous statements, contained in a Kaieteur News article dated March 2, 2014.
In his contempt claim, Bacchus noted that despite the injunction, the defendants published and caused to be published “a similar libel” on July 2, 2014.
According to an affidavit to support his motion, Bacchus pointed out that the defendants cannot claim to be unaware of the Chief Justice’s order, since they have retained an attorney and have sworn to an affidavit in answer.
“Notwithstanding , aware of the nature of the order of the Honourable Chief Justice dated 7th day of March, 2014 and in blatant breach thereof, the defendants or each one of them caused the…article to be published in the Kaieteur News July 2nd, 2014 edition under the caption “Dem boys seh…,” Bacchus’ affidavit stated.
He reiterated that the July 2nd article is libelous to him and is a clear breach of the order of the Honourable Chief Justice.
Lall and Harris in an affidavit in response to the initial motion filed by Bacchus, had maintained that the matters contained in the March 2nd article were published in the course of the newspaper disseminating matters of public interest to members of the public, who have a right to know.
“We contend that our newspaper enjoys a constitutional right to freedom of expression, and exercises a moral and social duty to publish matters of public interest, once we are satisfied that the comments are not defamatory, or are actuated by malice, and that they are substantially true based on facts, and constitute fair comments.”
Both Lall and Harris said that they are advised by their attorney Moses Nagamootoo and verily believe that the injunction that was granted acted as censorship of their newspaper.
The contempt hearing is set for August 4th.
SERVER WEDNESDAY: BACCHUS
Caption: Clifton Bacchus
SERVER WEDNESDAY: ADAM
CAPTION: Adam Harris
SERVER WEDNESDAY: GLENN
CAPTION: Publisher Glenn Lall
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Deeply concerned about political dysfunction in society
Dear Editor The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is deeply concerned about the political dysfunction in society that is... more
Haiti: Tragically Descending into Deeper Crisis
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- As gang violence spirals out of control in Haiti, the limitations of international... more
Weekend Cartoon
