PRESS RELEASE
Date: Monday 5th June 2017
The attention of the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Hon. Cornelius O M Deveaux has been drawn to an article in The New Storm newspaper of Friday June 2nd 2017 alleging that the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications was involved in an altercation involving a United States of America citizen by the name of Isha Daramy alongside her French National husband and younger sister and wherein the trio were assaulted by a group of OSD personnel and plain clothes officers allegedly belonging to the Deputy Minister.
The incident is reported to have taken place along/around SLPMB junction, Wellington, on Friday 26th May 2017 within the hours of 3:00pm and 3:30pm in the afternoon while the victims were heading for the hospital.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications wishes it to be known that at no time whatsoever has he been involved in an altercation with any member of the public and more particularly on the date, place and time in question.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications further wishes it to be known that he is not accompanied by a group of OSD personnel and plain clothes officers and that the only OSD personnel assigned to him has never been instructed or otherwise to beat any citizen.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications bemoans the worrisome state to which the media continues to degenerate and the blatant disregard for the media code of ethics anchoring on accuracy and balance by The New Storm newspaper and has forwarded an official complaint to the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists for the attention of the SLAJ Disciplinary Committee.
The Deputy Minister notes that if SLAJ cannot satisfactorily bring the errant Editor of The New Storm newspaper, who happens to be the author of the defamatory article, to book within 48 hours he will be left with no other alternative but to seek redress in a court of law.
Hon. Cornelius O M Deveaux is also requesting the victims to forward evidence/proof of him being involved in an altercation with them on the said date and time at Wellington PMB junction.
The Deputy Minister also wishes to assure the leadership of the All Peoples Congress, the Government, his numerous fans, supporters and well-wishers and particularly the United States of America Embassy in Freetown that he was never involved in any form of altercation with the said victims nor has he been ever involved in an altercation with any citizen.
Signed:
DMIC Media Team
