Maldives Broadcasting Commission has fined local television channel Raajje TV and one of its reporters with hefty penalties for defaming a citizen in a news article, marking the first case of defamation the commission has investigated and taken action against under the Defamation and Freedom of Speech Act.
The case was filed privately by an individual regarding a news article, broadcasted on November 19, 2016, on a case of sexual assault in Addu atoll Hithadhoo island. In a statement, the Broadcasting Commission disclosed on its website that Raajje TV had broadcasted the name of a family member of an individual involved in the sexual assault case without their consent. The commission added that the person whose name was revealed is a social worker who works closely with several families, and Raajje TV had broadcasted their name and depicted them in a degrading light debilitating to their reputation and honour.
According to the statement, Raajje TV and the reporter behind the article Aala Ibrahim are fined MVR 200,000 and MVR 50,000 respectively, to be paid within thirty days. The decision was taken with a unanimous vote from all members of the commission that attended the meeting.
Under the penalties set in the contentious Freedom of Speech and Defamation Act, any media company that violates this law can be penalized from an amount between MVR 50,000 to MVR 2 million, whilst an individual journalist could be penalized to an amount of MVR 50,000 to MVR 150,000 only. The case can only be appealed after payment. Should the media fail to pay the amount before the due date, the parent body of the media is authorised to abolish or suspend its license.
The Act gives authority to the Broadcasting Commission to receive complaints and take action against media outlets and individual reporters. If the fines are not paid on time, a jail sentence could be issued against the entities charged with defamation.
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