Liberia: Media Wars - Emboldened Jones Strikes Another Newspaper with Libel

Fresh from his initial triumph in a libel case against this paper as lawyer for one of former President Charles Taylor's organized and leftover companies, Consolidated Group Inc. Cllr. Marcus Jones has files another libel case the Front Page newspaper as lawyer for the auditing firm Voscom.

Details of the case are not known, but it is expected to begin on 2 March. Cllr Musa Dean, also lawyer for GAC, is said to be representing Front Page newspaper, according to the paper's publisher Rodney Sieh.

The latest action indicates that libel lawsuits against newspapers in the country are on the rise with The FrontPage Africa newspaper being the latest.

VOSCON has sued the paper claiming libel after it published a story detailing several irregularities in a contract the firm consummated with government.

The paper's story revealed that the Finance Ministry awarded USD105, 000 contract to the firm to reconcile the country's consolidated account at the Central Bank outside of the Public Procurement and Concession guideline, citing amongst others conflict of interest and non performance.

But the firm rejected the paper's publication and is now claiming libel. FPA Editor Rodney Sieh informed this paper Sunday that the Paper's legal team is reviewing the lawsuit for proper defense.

The UN 2006 Panel of Experts report on Liberia highlighted VOSCON as a "fraudulent" accounting firm that fake tax returns for private business establishments thus depriving government of millions in revenue.

This paper is similarly involved in a libel case at the Temple of Justice. But is taking advantage of appropriate legal statute after jurors ignored relevant facts and render a unanimous guilty verdict. Other newspapers and journalists are also in court facing sedition and libel law suits.

- February 22, 2010 by New Democrat

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Source: www.newdemocratnews.com/story.php (23.03.2010)