KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Former government minister Matthew Samuda has filed a defamation lawsuit against an official of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP).
The lawsuit has been filed against Ryan Simpson, the PNP caretaker for the St Ann North East constituency.
Samuda, who resigned his position to contest the September 30 by-election in the constituency, is seeking damages, including aggravated damages, interest, costs, and any other relief the court deems fit against the PNP’s candidate following a video posted on social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram on July 21 and 27.
“The defendant deliberately published or caused to be published the said defamatory statements to cause harm to the reputation of the Claimant, particularly in circumstances where both the Claimant and Defendant are political opponents in the constituency of North East St Ann,” according to the lawsuit that was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday by the law firm Nunes, Scholefield, DeLeon & Co.
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