Magazine to pay $121 000 for libel

2010-08-26 08:42

Lome - A Togolese court ordered on Wednesday the regional magazine Tribune d'Afrique to pay more than $121 000 in damages to a half brother of Faure Gnassingbe for defamation.

The article titled "Drug trafficking at top of the state, Togo in the network, Mey Gnassingbe fingered" implicated the president's half-brother in a drug trafficking network.

In addition to awarding the damages, the court also banned the distribution in Togo of Tribune d'Afrique, which is edited in neighbouring Benin.

The magazine's publisher, Max Carmel Savi, said they plan to appeal the court's ruling.

"I am shocked by this decision and heavy fine," Savi told AFP, saying the articling had not in fact implicated Mey Gnassingbe in drugs trafficking.

Over a dozen defamation cases are now in front of Togo's courts, including one in which the president is seeking over €150 000 in damages.

- SAPA