GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – A High Court has granted a New York-based Guyanese businessman, Ed Ahmad, a default judgment against news reporter, Travis Chase, over a post made on social media earlier this year.
Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln has yet to determine the amount of damages Chase must pay the businessperson. Ahmad had initially sought $100 million (One Guyana dollar equals 0.004 cents) from Chase for libel.
The High Court order states that Chase failed to defend the claim, adding that “Judgment in default of defense is entered against the defendant for an amount to be determined by the court based on the affidavit evidence already before the court”.
Ahmad has until July 1, 2025 to file any additional submissions.
The court order dated June 10, 2025, was issued after High Court Marshals failed twice to serve Chase at his workplace personally.
“The Respondent/Defendant has failed to enter an appearance in these proceedings, and he has also failed to serve and file a Defence in High Court Action herein within forty-two (42) days of service, that is, on or before the 17th April 2025, as prescribed by the Civil Procedure Rules,” Ahmad’s lawyers Darshan Ramdhani and Rajendra Jaigobin said in court papers.
Ahmad also wants the High Court to order Chase to remove the “patently fabricated, concocted, false and malicious posts” from his Facebook account that were made on January 29, 30th, 31st, February 1, 9th, 13th, and the 14th on Facebook.
Ahmad’s lawyers say that, contrary to the posts, he was never arrested or questioned by the police about money laundering and gold smuggling, nor is he part of any criminal gang as contended by the social media posts.
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