The Essex County Superior Courtroom in New Jersey, United States, has ordered former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, to pay $500 to investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas for defamation.
This represents a dramatic discount from the initial $18 million in damages awarded by a jury of the identical courtroom.
Confirming the brand new verdict in a press launch, Anas revealed that following the sooner ruling, Kennedy Agyapong filed a movement for remittitur—a authorized request asking the choose to cut back the damages awarded in opposition to him.
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Anas defined that whereas the courtroom maintained the responsible verdict, the monetary penalty was considerably lowered:
At this time, the trial choose granted Kennedy Agyapong’s movement for remittitur and decreased the preliminary award to $500. Because of this, whereas the choose held that Kennedy Agyapong had defamed me, in his reasoning, the award granted by the jury was extreme.
In his assertion, Anas expressed gratitude for the responsible verdict, reiterating that the case was about justice, not monetary compensation:
Many avenues of redemption accrue to me. However it is very important state, as I beforehand did, that this combat has not been concerning the cash, however somewhat, a combat for fact and justice.
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He added:
I’m completely happy that not a single allegation was confirmed in opposition to me in courtroom, even when Kennedy Agyapong was given full alternative to substantiate them.
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Background
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On 7 September 2021, throughout an look on The Daddy Present, Kennedy Agyapong described Anas as a “legal” and a “thief”. He additionally alleged that Anas was linked to the homicide of fellow journalist Ahmed Suale and implicated within the deaths of Chinese language nationals in Ghana.
Anas, recognized for his undercover work exposing corruption, argued that these statements severely broken his fame and endangered his life.
Within the lawsuit filed in Might 2022 within the US, Anas sought the next reliefs:
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Presumed damages of $5 million
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Particular damages of $10 million
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Precise damages of $5 million
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Punitive damages of $10 million
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A restraining order stopping Kennedy Agyapong from making additional defamatory remarks
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An order for the everlasting removing of defamatory content material from on-line platforms
Whereas the monetary compensation has been considerably decreased, the responsible verdict stays intact—marking a symbolic victory for Anas in his pursuit of accountability.
