Editor is fined for smearing top officials A NEWSPAPER chief has been fined BD200 for smearing a government minister and a senior official in a high-profile defamation case. Al Ayam editor-in-chief Isa Al Shaiji was taken to court by former Minister of State for Information Affairs Sameera Rajab, who claimed the daily published more than five articles insulting her, and one of her advisers. Mr Al Shaji denied the charges, but the High Criminal Court yesterday found him guilty of publishing false and defamatory information. The court also ordered the confiscation of newspaper editions that contained offending reports. Lawyers representing the victims can now seek compensation at the High Civil Court, while Mr Al Shaiji has been ordered to pay initial compensation of BD150 and publish the courts verdict on the newspapers front page - in addition to paying for the story to appear on the front page of another newspaper. The court found the defendant guilty of publishing falsified information that could result in punishment for his victims and expose them to contempt, stated court verdict documents. The newspaper published wrong information and accusations in the editions of March 30, 31, April 1, 2, 7 and 8. The paper falsely claimed that a fire broke out in a building belonging to the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) and said it was part of a conspiracy against Bahrain on March 30 (2014). The paper claimed that a person started the blaze, while the fire actually broke out in an office near a production facility due to a short-circuit, according to a Civil Defence report. The publication then said that the fire broke out in a studio belonging to the IAA and was caused due to negligence to stir public opinion. They then claimed that there were orders to evacuate the studio and hand the studio contract to a new company, which was previously connected to the media wing of Hizbollah. However, there wasnt a contract given to any company to take care of the studio. The paper then questioned if the IAA was being penetrated, accusing adviser Feras Nasir of having relations with terrorists and hinting that he was behind the fire. Mr Nasir was a very competent worker who had vast experience in the media field after heading Jordanian TV, MBC and Al Arabiya TV. He has been working in the ministry for 10 years and when she (Ms Rajab) came to his defence, they accused her of confirming the papers suspicions. The court concluded that a picture published by the newspaper claiming to show Mr Nasir on Manar TV, which belongs to Hizbollah, was not him. Ms Rajab was accused of trying to pressure the newspaper against its freedom of speech, added the court. She was also accused of providing BD3 million to a company to take care of the studio, which was untrue because there was no payment or contract given. Mr Al Shaijis lawyer said he planned to appeal the verdict at the Supreme Criminal Appeals Court. The IAA fire broke out on March 24 last year and caused damage worth around BD150,000. #ila
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 05:22:39 +0000
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