The Cape High Court ordered the former editor of the Cape Times Ryland Fisher, the proprietors of the Cape Times and Allied Media distributors on Monday to pay R100 000 to Waleed Suleiman, for
defamation.
The order was made jointly and ”severally” which means that if one party pays the others will be absolved.
The case stems from a front page picture in the Cape Times of Suleiman in August 1998 alleging he was the Waterfront bomber.
Suleiman had been arrested the night before the report appeared at the Cape Town International Airport but was released hours later when police realised that he was not the bomber.
Photographs and reports linked Suleiman to the Waterfront bombing of the Planet Hollywood restaurant.
Suleiman, his wife and her cousin were arrested for passport irregularities that were the result of administrative errors.
A fleamarket businessman, Suleiman launched a R3-million defamation action in June 1999. – Sapa