31 Aug 2010 | Index Index, minipost
A criminal court judge in Togo has moved to ban the distribution of Tribune d’Afrique, a bimonthly Benin newspaper, that had raised questions about the alleged involvement of a half-brother of President Faure Gnassingbé in drug trafficking. The ban was placed because of an article titled “Drug trafficking at top of the state, Togo in the network, Mey Gnassingbe fingered.” Togo-based editor Aurel Kedoté, reporter Cudjoe Amekudzi and chief executive officer Marlène de la Bardonnie have been fined and a judge has ordered the newspaper to pay 60 million CFA francs.
On 25 August, President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé filed a separate defamation lawsuit against the Indépendant Express. The weekly newspaper published articles that the president has deemed insulting. President Gnassingbé demanded 100 million CFA (approx. US$200,000) in damages over the “enormous harm” to his reputation.
31 Aug 2010 | Index Index, minipost
Footballer Wayne Rooney is launching a libel claim against The Sun newspaper over stories that suggest he booked a holiday which would take place during the closing stages of the World Cup before England was knocked out. The two articles, published in June and July, alleged that Rooney confirmed a holiday two days before the team’s last match in the competition. The player denies this and argues the stories damaged his personal and professional reputation. Rooney is seeking an injunction against any repetition of the allegations.
27 Aug 2010 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
Singer Lily Allen’s half-sister has launched legal action against Now magazine over an article about her famous relative. Gala Talbott is suing the publication’s owner IPC Media, seeking libel damages of up to £15,000.
The nineteen-year-old claims that an article entitled “Lily’s Heartache over Secret Sister” made false allegations about the relationship between the two women. She said the story was distressing and embarrassing, and that it had damaged her reputation. In addition to her libel claim Talbott is seeking an injunction banning any repetition of the same allegations.
27 Aug 2010 | Index Index, minipost
Little Britain actor Matt Lucas is taking legal action against the Daily Mail over a story that he claims breached his privacy. Entitled How Matt Lucas learned to laugh again, the article detailed how the actor was affected by the suicide of his former civil partner, Kevin McGee. Lucas said the story that appeared in March was “a very serious invasion of privacy” and an “intrusion into grief”. He claims the article included false information, such as the suggestion that he blamed himself for McGee’s death.
