The Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Fazil Karimbaksh, has moved to the High Court to file a $70 million lawsuit against the former chairman of the Police Service Commission and Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe for slander.
The Senior Superintendent deposed in his action that Slowe between November 2, 2021, to January 12, 2022, made several false and defamatory statements about him on his Facebook and YouTube pages ‘Speaking Out: Exposing Corruption and Incompetence’.
The SOCU Head is claiming $60M for damages in addition to $10M for aggravated and/or exemplary damages.
According to the court documents seen by the News Room, Karimbaksh contended that Slowe was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on October 15, 2021, for sexual assault and fraud. The investigation into those charges was conducted by SOCU.
Shortly after, Slowe created and began operating his Facebook and Youtube pages. During several broadcasts, Slowe allegedly made “false statements” concerning Karimbaksh.
In the court documents, Karimbaksh said the Facebook and Youtube pages were created by Slowe for the sole purpose of attacking the characters of officers who were investigating him for criminal offences.
He is of the view that the attacks on his ranks by Slowe were done in an effort to prejudice the investigations.
Karimbaksh said that the false and malicious statements by Slowe suggest that he (Karimbaksh) committed sexual offences and is also corrupt and unprofessional.
The senior cop complained that these statements ruined his reputation and has caused him considerable hurt, distress and embarrassment.
According to him, the statements intended and had the effect of lowering his character, morality, and honesty in the eyes of right-thinking persons and subordinate ranks of the Guyana Police Force.
The SOCU head is also asking the Court to grant a permanent injunction restraining Slowe – whether by himself, representatives, and agents or otherwise – from publishing or causing to be published the statements or anything similar thereto.
