afrol News, 26 April - Angered by its 23 March front page story linking its members to a mafia scam, the Palazzolo family threatens the publisher and editor of ‘The Namibian’ to pay US $1 million as compensation for causing injury to its reputation or else face legal suit for deformation.

‘The Namibian’ officials received a letter signed by Lucius Murorua, the lawyer of Palassolo family, complaining of being defamed by the paper’s story which was subsequently ran by the freely distributed weekly ‘Informanté.

Headlined “mafia linked to Namibian gems", the story penned by a freelance journalist John Grobler, accused the Sicilian mafia of hiding behind front companies to obtain interest in Namibia’s diamond-cutting industry.

The family further threatens to file five counts of deformation against the newspaper company if it fails to comply.

‘The Namibian’ will be represented in court by its lawyer, Michael Boettger.

Since the four plaintiffs are all foreigners to the Namibian jurisdiction they must therefore deposit N$ 150,000 (US $2,200) as security to the High Court.
The money will cover the litigation costs in case judgement is entered against their favour.

The Palazzolo family complained as to why some of their members were described as dishonest and corrupt gangsters who have been assisting gangsters to achieve unlawful ends.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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