Miadhu Daily wins Gayyoom’s defamation case
Civil Court Confirms Maumoon is a THIEF

Miadhu Daily has yesterday won former President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s defamation case against the Editor of Miadhu Daily, for publishing that the New York Times had published a story containing allegations that Gayoom embezzled US$400 million during his time in government.

With Gayyoom failing to establish substantial proofs, Miadhu Editor Abdul Latheef won the case without the aid of a lawyer, defeating Gayyoom for the first time ever in a court of law.

Gayyoom sued Editor Abdul Latheef on the claims that he misled the public and defamed the honour of Gayyoom in the article published in the paper.

During the hearings of the case, Gayyoom’s lawyer, Mohamed Waheed alleged that the media cannot reveal any information based on the reports of the Auditor General (AG). He claimed that any information on the AG’s report can only disseminated if it is proven in a court of law. He said that if it is published without the court ruling it to be true then it will be defamation and slander.

Concluding the case, Civil Court Judge Mariyam Nihayath ruled that as Miadhu Daily article was based on the information revealed by the country’s independent AG and which is valid unless proven otherwise in a court of law, this information cannot be considered defamatory.

Miadhu Daily Editor Abdul Latheef after the hearing said that it is a happy day for Maldivian media. He said that with the court’s landmark verdict, media is assured that they can make public the information revealed in reports of independent authorities such as the Auditor General’s Office or the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Former President, Gayyoom lodged the defamation case against Miadhu Daily Editor when Miadhu Daily published a news article based on a New York Times article alleging corruption during Gayyoom’s 30 year long regime.

Although Miadhu Daily did not publish any information not included in the New York Times article, and the Miadhu report referenced the original report, Gayoom decided to sue the editor lodging the defamation case against him.