Viola sues Malawi News for defamation: Demanding K250m in aggravated damages

Beleaguered Presidential Press Secretary, Gerald Viola on Wednesday, sued Malawi media giant, Times Group, on defamation charges over the story which appeared in the Malawi News alleging that Viola told the grouping that President Peter Mutharika may contemplate buying a jet once the economy improves.

According to the writ of summons filed at the High Court in Blantyre, Viola is asking for compensation for publishing “false” information to the public.

Viola’s lawyer, Ambokile Salim, in an interview with Nyasa Times confirmed that his client has indeed instructed him to sue the author of the story Gregory Gondwe as the first respondent, the editor as the second respondent and Times Group as the third respondent.

In a separate interview, Viola confirmed to have instructed his lawyers to sue the newspaper.

“Yes it is true that I have instructed my lawyers to commerce legal proceedings against times Group for the damages that I have suffered following their story in which they quoted me that President Peter Mutharika might consider buying the jet, I view that as total misrepresentation of facts,” said Viola.