News / National
Gono's adviser sues Trevor Ncube's Standard for $5 million
04 Dec 2011 at 07:07hrs | Views
Dr Gideon Gono's adviser, Dr Munyaradzi Kereke, is suing The Standard newspaper for US$5 million after the weekly accused him of trying to conceal a rape case.
In papers filed in the High Court last Thursday, Dr Kereke flatly denies the allegations, saying they were defamatory and driven by malice.
Standard Press, Munn Marketing, the paper's editor Nevanji Madanhire and the writer of the article, Caiphas Chimhete, are the defendants.
Part of the papers read: "On November 27, the defendants, acting with a common purpose or in furtherance of a common goal of defaming the plaintiff, published, circulated and distributed The Standard newspaper, in which appeared two articles headed "Rape Case Kereke Wants to Suppress" and an editorial write-up headed "Kereke must have his day in court".
"The said statements, publications and words in the context of the articles are wrongful and defamatory of the plaintiff in that they were intended and were understood by the readers of the newspaper, nationally and internationally, to mean that; the plaintiff is abusing his office and position in society to suppress the alleged rape case and is, therefore, not a law-abiding citizen and he can do anything to subvert the course of justice, including influencing the police and the Attorney-General.
"The plaintiff is a threat and danger to society and, pointedly, a dangerous homicidal criminal who can use firearms to threaten and subdue any pressure from his victims or victim's allies."
Dr Kereke, who is being represented by Mr Tawanda Chitapi of Chitapi and Associates, also argues that the newspaper published the story without seeking his side. He said this deprived him of the right to be heard.
He further contests insinuations by the newspaper that he is an armed and dangerous criminal, a persecutor of innocent journalists and a threat to the rule of law.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of confrontations between Dr Kereke and the publication.
In a preceding case, Dr Kereke sued Madanhire and reporter Nqaba Matshazi for criminal defamation.
The two are also facing a charge of stealing documents from Green Card Medical Aid Society.
The medical aid society is also pursuing a parallel civil case, demanding US$2,5 million compensation.
In papers filed in the High Court last Thursday, Dr Kereke flatly denies the allegations, saying they were defamatory and driven by malice.
Standard Press, Munn Marketing, the paper's editor Nevanji Madanhire and the writer of the article, Caiphas Chimhete, are the defendants.
Part of the papers read: "On November 27, the defendants, acting with a common purpose or in furtherance of a common goal of defaming the plaintiff, published, circulated and distributed The Standard newspaper, in which appeared two articles headed "Rape Case Kereke Wants to Suppress" and an editorial write-up headed "Kereke must have his day in court".
"The said statements, publications and words in the context of the articles are wrongful and defamatory of the plaintiff in that they were intended and were understood by the readers of the newspaper, nationally and internationally, to mean that; the plaintiff is abusing his office and position in society to suppress the alleged rape case and is, therefore, not a law-abiding citizen and he can do anything to subvert the course of justice, including influencing the police and the Attorney-General.
"The plaintiff is a threat and danger to society and, pointedly, a dangerous homicidal criminal who can use firearms to threaten and subdue any pressure from his victims or victim's allies."
He further contests insinuations by the newspaper that he is an armed and dangerous criminal, a persecutor of innocent journalists and a threat to the rule of law.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of confrontations between Dr Kereke and the publication.
In a preceding case, Dr Kereke sued Madanhire and reporter Nqaba Matshazi for criminal defamation.
The two are also facing a charge of stealing documents from Green Card Medical Aid Society.
The medical aid society is also pursuing a parallel civil case, demanding US$2,5 million compensation.
Source - TH
