Dear Editor,
I refer to your newspaper report captioned ‘Gutted body of boat collision victim found in Moruca shallow grave’, Sunday Stabroek, June 12, 2016. I represent the young man who was the operator of the boat that was involved in an accident which led to the untimely passing of his maternal uncle, Mohamed Abdool Shameer. Apart from the tabloid nature of your reporting which can be characterized as scandalous and sensational, it was clearly intended to sway the thinking of the police as they pursue their investigation into this matter.
My instructions are, there was a boating mishap involving the victim and his nephew at night in the pitch-black Pomeroon River and that the victim’s boat had no light. Moreover, at no point in time was the victim of this boating mishap gutted or murdered by anyone. It is moreover scandalous to suggest that the body was in a “shallow grave”, conjuring images of Babita Sarjoo, and that, “There was a wooden stave in his chest, pinning him to the gound… that was done to keep the body in place in case the area flooded,” again conjuring images of my client behaving like a marauding barbarian.
Was any of the above corroborated by the police?
This kind of sensationalist-style reporting reminds me of the scandal-mongering news outfit Gawker which professional wrestler Hulk Hogan successfully sued and was awarded US$150M in a libel action.
Stabroek News’ reputation as a first quality local newspaper will continue to be eroded by ignoring the basic tenets of journalism, including the requirement to verify its facts.
It is additionally highly irresponsible for your newspaper to report the allegation that there might have been a “fishy” deal between my client and the police, as well as the fear expressed by relatives of the victim that my client might attempt to flee the jurisdiction. In fact, he is on police bail, reporting twice a week to Charity Police Station and as required by the Eve Leary Police Station. He has abided by all the terms of police bail. Any proper journalistic investigation would have revealed this by checking with the Criminal Investigation Division, Eve Leary, or with the Charity Police Station. But this would have diluted the tabloid nature of your story, as it was hell bent on pursuing a twisted account of what transpired.
At this juncture I do not wish to comment any further on this matter which is under police investigation, but urge you to exercise restraint as your story is libellous, and to accord appropriate and prominent space to correct the inaccuracies of your story.
Yours faithfully,
Jerome Khan
Attorney-at-law
