The Court of Appeal dismissing Omar Archer’s appeal against a Supreme Court ruling. Archer sought to have the court dismiss his motion for constitutional relief regarding a criminal libel charge brought against him six years ago.
Back in September 2015, Archer was arrested and charged with intentional libel due to publishing defamatory material about a local reporter by uploading a post on his Facebook page claiming the journalist had tested positive for a sexually transmitted disease in an attempt to defame her character. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal found that where allegations are calculated and intended to destroy the reputation of persons, the criminal law must be able to provide a sanction, rather than leave a victim to a civil claim for damages which may be worthless.
Archer will have to pay court costs after losing his appeal.
