Dr. Shaheed files defamation charges for second time

Monday, August 24th, 2009

shahi-uma4Foreign minister and key member of the Gaumee Party Dr Ahmed Shaheed has on Sunday, filed law suit, for the second, against the leader of the Islamic Democratic Party (IDP) Umar Naseer for making defamatory allegations against him.

The initial law suit filed by Dr. Shaheed, a key member of Gaumee Party, was thrown out of court on Thursday as neither Dr. Shaheed nor his lawyer was present in court for the hearing scheduled on Thursday.

Dr. Shaheed initially filed lawsuit on 7 June this year, suing Umar Naseer for Rf. 57,898,477 for making defamatory allegations against him. IDP Leader in early March alleged that the senior government officials, including foreign minister Dr. Shaheed, accepted US $ 2 million in bribes to recognize Kosovo independence. The bribe was allegedly from Behgjet Pacolli, Leader New Kosovo Alliance (NKA).

Speaking to Miadhu Daily after filing the charges for the second time, Dr. Shaheed said he wants to file the case, for the time being, and to later find out why his team was not informed of the hearing on Thursday.

Dr. Shaheed said neither he nor his lawyer, Dr. Moahamed Jameel, former government’s justice minister and the incumbent government first civil aviation and communications minister, who was later sacked by President Nasheed for being critical of the government, was not informed that the first hearing of the case was scheduled for Thursday. However, the presiding Judge on Thursday said the chit was duly sent to Dr. Shaheed’s lawyer, Dr. Jameel’s house on Wednesday. However, Dr. Shaheed said neither his house nor Dr. Jameel’s house received any chit from Civil Court regarding the case.

Dr. Jameel speaking to media earlier has said that he hoped with this case a legal precedence would be established in the country and asserted that they enough evidence to prove their case.

The defamatory allegations against Dr. Shaheed were made by a leader of a political party and as such it will be the responsibility of the party leader to prove such allegations, Dr. Jameel said.

“We have to make these people who make such allegations answerable and accountable” said Jameel who served as former justice minister and as a senior magistrate.

‘There are certain limits and boundaries stipulated in the new constitution for the freedom of expression” Jameel said.

Former minister Jameel said the amount claimed was decided upon based on a number of factors including his fees as well as damage to the foreign minister and his family’s reputation, and his future career prospects.

“We are claiming Rf. 57 million , we have taken in to account his current job and also likely future jobs for the next 20 -25 years, in addition we have included lawyers fees, damages to his and his family’s reputation” Jameel said.

Jameel said in most other countries when defamation charges are filed, damages to victims reputations and income losses as well as obstacles to future jobs prospective are taken in to account.

Foreign minister Shaheed told the media he was deeply affected by the allegations. “Clearly the allegation has defamed by character and reputation,” he said. “I have been asked about this by a number of people. These allegations lurking behind in the background don’t help me professionally or personally.”

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