Angus Road: Jugnauth Takes Legal Actions Against l’Express Newspaper

Pravind Jugnauth is suing l’Express in a civil case following two articles published on November 7 and 11, 2020 regarding the Angus Road affair.

L’express had suggested that after the revelations made by Roshi Bhadain, the unanswered parts of Boolell’s PNQs, and the responses obtained, Pravind Jugnauth had a duty to explain the payments in cash above the authorized limit, allegations of corruption and inherent conflicts of interest, tax evasion, and the mysterious payment of Rs 20 million made in England by Loganaden Govinden for another part of the land.

L’express, represented by its lawyers Michel Ahnee and Francis Hardy, objected by stating that Pravind Jugnauth’s complaint was vague and did not specify which parts of the articles were defamatory, simply throwing a long article at the respondent without pinpointing the defamatory parts.

In response, Pravind Jugnauth claimed that the defamatory phrases were clearly identified in bold in the amended complaint.

In a ruling delivered on Thursday, March 7, Judge Shameem Hamuth-Lalloo concluded that the bolded phrases were sufficient to demonstrate which parts were considered defamatory.

The trial will proceed on the merits and a date will be set for Tuesday, March 19.

Source: l’Express