THE High Court has found social media blogger Rhoda Bharath in contempt of court.
The declaration was made by Justice Betsy-Ann Lambert-Peterson after Bharath disobeyed a previous injunctive order.
On August 2, the judge restrained Bharath from re-publishing certain defamatory statements she had made against former police commissioner Gary Griffith.
The declaration made stated that Bharath, her servants, agents or by any other means was restrained from speaking, publishing or causing to be published on Facebook or any social media platform or any internet webpage or online media and/or electronic and print media house any defamatory words or statements related to one of her posts against Griffith.
He had filed the lawsuit against Bharath claiming defamation of character based on a post on her Newsauce Facebook page on July 18.
In the August 2 order, Justice Lambert-Peterson has ruled that the matter come up on November 20.
But, the day after the court’s order, Bharath published on her Newsauce page a breakdown of the court’s order and also mentioned the issues she was not allowed to speak about until at least the next hearing. The post had attached to it a copy of the pre-action protocol letter Griffith issued to Bharath in July after the first post was published.
Bharath also posted a screenshot of the post that Griffith has initially taken issue with.
The matter came up on Thursday, after Griffith’s attorneys made an application of contempt before Justice Lambert Peterson. The application was granted.
Bharath also has to pay Griffith’s legal costs in the matter.
Griffith was represented by Zelicia Haynes-Soo Hon, Raisa Caesar and Kerri-Ann Oliverie, Attorney and MP for Port of Spain South Keith Scotland appeared for Bharath.
