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Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
Businessman and diplomat Mr Kamal Khalfan says he will only drop his US$10 million lawsuit against the Daily News if the paper apologises for publishing a series of allegedly defamatory articles implicating him in illegal diamond dealings and money laundering.
He wants a full apology on the front page, naming the source.
“If the paper fails to meet these conditions I will continue with the civil suit,” said Mr Khalfan, the Honorary Consul of the Sultanate of Oman.
“The editor of the Daily News (Stanley Gama) will have to present in court proof of where I sourced the billions I am supposed to have laundered and how I laundered them.
“They will have to present proof of the huge amounts of gold and diamonds that I am supposed to have smuggled out of the country when I do not have a concession, or mine, and have never traded in gold or diamonds.”
Mr Khalfan added: “They will have to provide proof and names of the ministers I am supposed to have bribed with millions and reasons for such bribery when I do not have a concession or mine.
“I can understand the editor of the Daily News withholding the name of the source, but not when the source deliberately lied and gave serious defamatory information that has no basis to reality.”
The Daily News has filed its intention to defend the claim.
The paper published articles suggesting Mr Khalfan was using his political connections to link dubious businessmen to President Mugabe.
It also claimed Mr Khalfan was paying bribes to top Government officials to launder money.
The story was based on documents the paper claimed to have found during investigations.
Online Reporter