MONROVIA – The Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the Civil Law Court, George W. Smith, has awarded former Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Abraham Kromah $1.6 million in a ruling Monday, May 5, and convicting Hassan Fadiga and Hussein Fadiga of libel and slander of Mr. Kromah.
It can be recalled Mr. Kromah on February 6, filed a suit against the twin brothers for making false and defamatory statements against him, including alleging he’s a drug dealer. He complained the two brothers for embarking on defamation spree in association with a convicted drug dealer tagged Japan.
Hassan Fadiga, who and Kromah co-led LDEA and his brother Hussein Fadiga reportedly said openly the Mr. Kromah ransacked Japan’s home and stole $200,000 and then visited him secretly at the Monrovia Central Prison. They also accordingly accused Kromah of having close ties with drug traffickers.
Kromah law suit against the duo indicated that the two men caused him reputational harm, loss of security contracts including a US$2 million deal and emotional distress.
He said the Fadigas knowingly and consciously fabricated these lies with the intent to expose him and family to public disrepute and that the accusations damaged his career, business, health.
According to Judge Smith, the Fadigas were convicted for failing to prove their allegations, including lack of documentary evidence and proof against Mr. Kromah, who had requested the court for two million United States Dollars in damages.
The Judge said in his ruling that the defendants’ utterances were found to be false, defamatory, and made with actual malice, citing precedence in U.S. Supreme Court in New York Times v. Sullivan.
Adolphus Terra Quai, a former LDEA agent, testified during the trial that he heard Hussein Fadiga making the allegations on radio. He exhibited a letter written by Hassan Fadiga to the Ministry of Justice. He indicated that the Fadigas’ media campaign against Kromah was widespread and deliberate.
“Public officials and public figures are held to a higher legal standard in libel cases,” Judge Smith said during the ruling, adding: “Where actual malice is proven, as in this case, the law supports recovery of damages”.
Judge Smith ruled that Kromah met the burden of proof for general and punitive damages except that he could not provide specific evidence for US$2 million contract loss that he had claimed.
The Fadigas were not in court during the pronouncement of the verdict, as bailiff testified that the men rejected all attempts to service writ, and that they insulted court officers, prompting the court’s default judgment after multiple failed attempts to compel their appearance.
The court-appointed counsel for the defendants, Cllr. Ambrose Nmah, announced an appeal to the Supreme Court on behalf of the respondents.
Comments are closed.