Dubai court hears Dh200m libel case against Arabic daily

Dubai: A senior media executive is suing an Arabic newspaper for Dh200 million in civil compensation, accusing the newspaper of libel.

The Dubai Civil Court yesterday held its first hearing in the case of the Canadian plaintiff, the CEO of a pan-Arab satellite television, who claims in his lawsuit that the Dubai-based newspaper published a defamatory article in which it alleged that he molested a lawyer.

"In its article, the defendant quoted an Egyptian newspaper which accused the plaintiff of sexually molesting the lawyer. Attributing the news to the Egyptian newspaper, the defendant published, electronically (on its website) and in print, that the lawyer lodged a police complaint against the CEO allegedly accusing him of requesting him for bizarre sexual services& the defendant also added some untrue and baseless details about the CEO," according to the lawsuit.

"The defendant also published that the claimant phoned the lawyer and threatened him over the phone... the newspaper further printed that when the claimant was appointed as CEO, the satellite television was hit by a state of controversy. The article in question mentioned that the claimant appointed incompetent directors and supervisors from specific nationalities and with high wages...insisted on appointing his 29-year-old acquaintance for a Dh73,000 salary," added the lawsuit.

The plaintiff explained in his lawsuit that the defendant tarnished his image and damaged his reputation besides running his initials.

"...The defendant's article humiliated, shamed and dishonoured the CEO through baselessly and maliciously accusing him of being a homosexual... the claimant was on the verge of getting married," argued the claimant in his lawsuit.

"The mentioned article embarrassed the plaintiff amongst his superiors and colleagues plus it inflicted financial, emotional, psychological and moral damages worth around Dh100 million& the published article also disgraced him in front of his family and wife-to-be. This also caused him an estimated damage worth Dh40 million. After the article was published, the CEO alleged that his social gatherings were affected and he was forced to isolate himself. He estimated that loss with Dh60 million," stated the lawsuit.

The defendant's lawyers are expected to present their response when the Civil Court reconvenes soon.

Man seeks Dh5m compensation

Meanwhile, an Egyptian husband has accused an English newspaper of libel after it printed what he described as a defamatory article and is seeking Dh5 million in compensation.

He lodged the lawsuit against the Dubai-based daily at the Dubai Civil Court, which held its first session on Tuesday.