Journalist Leroy Smith slapped with $600M defamation lawsuit

Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Fazil Karimbaksh has filed a multi-million-dollar defamation lawsuit against journalist Leroy Smith, seeking damages in excess of $600 million.

The lawsuit, filed in the High Court of Georgetown, accuses Smith of publishing a series of defamatory statements across multiple online platforms, aimed at tarnishing Karimbaksh’s reputation. The lawsuit claims that Smith, who operates the widely followed online news platform “Big Smith News Watch” and the associated Facebook page, made several allegations against Karimbaksh, questioning his leadership of SOCU and alleging unethical conduct within the Force. The statements in question, according to the legal filing by attorneys, were intended to lower the esteem of Karimbaksh in the eyes of the public and his peers within the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Karimbaksh is seeking damages of $100 million for each of six separate publications made. In addition to the financial compensation, the Deputy Commissioner is requesting an injunction to prevent further defamatory statements and a court order compelling Smith to remove the offending content from his platforms.
In the lawsuit, Karimbaksh points to specific articles and posts made by Smith on the “Big Smith News Watch” website and Facebook page. Karimbaksh asserts that the words were false, malicious, and calculated to embarrass him, injure his standing, and undermine his authority within the GPF. According to his statement of claim, the defamatory publications have led to “considerable hurt, distress, and embarrassment,” exposing him to reputational harm both publicly and within his professional community. The lawsuit argues that the publications have caused the public and his subordinates to question his competence, character, and integrity.
At the time of filing, Smith had not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
According to legal procedures, he has 42 days to file a defence in response to the claim. If Smith fails to respond within the specified time frame, the court may rule in Karimbaksh’s favour in his absence.
Karimbaksh, through his attorneys had demanded a retraction and apology from Smith following the publication of the alleged defamatory article by “Big Smith News Watch. ” The letter emphasised the professional and personal harm caused to the senior policeman and called for an apology and retraction, threatening legal action if these demands were not met. Smith was served with court documents on Friday in the Police Headquarters compound, Eve Leary, by the High Court Marshal after three months of evading service and hiding. SOCU Head Deputy Commissioner Karimbaksh indicated that more lawsuits against Smith will be forthcoming shortly over his recent malicious and disrespectful publications.