Attorney-at-law Sase Gunraj, representing Beian Cui of Lot 13 Waterside Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, has issued a lawyer’s letter demanding a retraction from Kaieteur News. In its May 3 edition, Kaieteur News reported on the attendance of controversial Chinese businessman Su Zhi Rong at a fundraiser hosted by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), despite Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s claim of not seeing him.
The Kaieteur News article, which featured a front-page headline accompanied by a photograph of a person identified as Su Zhi Rong, was followed by a detailed article. However, it has since been revealed that the man in the article is not Su Zhi Rong but in fact, Beian Cui. This prompted the demand for retraction. Gunraj’s letter asserts that Cui, the owner, proprietor, and operator of various businesses in Guyana, was misidentified in KN’s publication.
Gunraj contends that the individual depicted is not Cui and insists that the misidentification has damaged Cui’s reputation, subjecting him to public ridicule, contempt, and odium.
“In the circumstances, we are instructed to demand, as we hereby do, that you publish a retraction of the said article and photograph in your next publication, giving same similar or greater prominence than the instant article,” the letter states.
Gunraj underscored that Cui is prepared to pursue legal action if Kaieteur News fails to comply with the demand for retraction. “Our client has already been advised of the plethora of legal options available to him and is prepared to institute legal proceedings in the unlikely event of your failure to comply,” the letter asserts.
Moreover, Vice President Jagdeo had initiated a $50 million lawsuit against Su over statements made in a Vice News documentary implicating him in alleged corruption. The lawsuit alleges defamation and slanderous statements, causing reputational damage to Jagdeo. Su had claimed in the documentary that Jagdeo accepted cash bribes for government contracts. Jagdeo denies the allegations and awaits a default judgment in the lawsuit.
