RajjeTV fined MVR 1 mn for defamatory content on President

RajjeTV has been fined MVR 1 million for defamatory content it telecasted targeting President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

In the summary report released this Thursday, Broadcasting Commission said investigation into the case was initiated by the commission.

Broadcasting Commission wrote in its report that RajjeTV was provided the opportunity to address the allegation against the television station, during which time it wrote to the commission confessing to telecasting the content in question.

Broadcasting Commission said the content telecasted by RajjeTV resulted in widespread doubt as to the legal responsibilities of the President of the Republic of Maldives.

“As the commission’s investigation found it to be damaging to his [President Yameen’s] honor and dignity, we decide the content to violate the statues of freedom of speech,” wrote Broadcasting Commission in its report.

The commission said that given it was RajjeTV’s second violation of freedom of speech, the television station needed to pay a fine of MVR 1 million within one month.

The penalty was supported by majority of members of the commission present during the voting.

The report does not specify the content which was deemed defamatory, just that it was a comment made during a Maldives United Opposition function telecasted live by RajjeTV.