Bombastic social media talk show host, Mikhil Rodrigues aka “Guyanese Critic” and his “They Break News” company have been ordered by the High Court to pay a total of $52 million to Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed in default judgements related to a defamation case.

In the ruling that was handed down by Justice Nigel Niles, the Court granted the default judgements which were sought by the Attorneys for the Mohameds.

The Judge ordered that Rodrigues and his “They Break News” pay damages totaling $22.5 million along with punitive damages of $3.5 million to each of the Mohameds.

In relation to the damages, the Judge broke it down by ordering the payment of $7.5 million for defamation committed on the 17th February, another $7.5 million for defamation committed on the 1st March and a further $7.5 million for defamation committed by Rodrigues and his company on the 14th March, 2024.

The punitive damages relate to defamation committed on the 17th February, the 1st March and the 14th March, 2024

Justice Niles also granted a permanent injunction, restraining Rodrigues and “They Break News”, whether by themselves, their servants, and or agents from uttering, repeating, posting, printing, publishing, sharing, reproducing, broadcasting, or otherwise disseminating either by video, audio broadcast, print, social media, or by other electronic means, the offending words, utterances, statements and publications of words, utterances statements or publications similar to those made in the offending broadcasts.

It was further ordered that the the order of damages bares interest on the sum of $22.5 million at the rate of 6% per anum from the date of filing to the day of judgement, and thereafter, interest at a rate of 4% per annum from the date of judgement until fully paid.

Rodrigues and his company have also been ordered to pay the claimants, Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed a total of $250,000 each in Court costs.

In the lawsuits against Rodrigues, which were filed in May, the Mohameds stated that Rodrigues at various times in February and March of this year during his morning programme defamed both the father and his son.

It was explained that in the case of the father, Rodrigues played several voice notes of him on his live online programme and later made derogatory remarks against him. 

The senior Mohamed in Court documents said he was offended by multiple statements made by Rodrigues during his talk show, but particularly took umbrage to Rodrigues insinuating that he is a criminal. 

Mr. Mohamed also submitted to the Court that Rodrigues made statements to the effect that his family was financing the teachers protest back in February.

According to the businessman, Rodrigues in another programme in March, told his audience that the Mohameds destroyed many lives.

He said he was also offended by other statements made by Mikhil Rodrigues.

Similiar claims were made by the younger Mohamed. The father and son were represented by Attorneys, Rajendra Poonai, Sohan Poonai and Naresh Poonai.

The Mohameds were recently sanctioned by the US Government along with Government Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas, in an unrelated matter. They were sanctioned by the US for allegedly dodging hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes and under-declaring their gold exports, and allegedly being involved in a bribery scheme with the Permanent Secretary.

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