Ulterior purpose as to why the committal proceedings were brought against Naidu – Apted

Richard Naidu’s lawyer, Jon Apted has today told the Civil High Court that they want to cross-examine Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum because there is an ulterior purpose as to why Sayed-Khaiyum brought the committal proceedings against Naidu.

Apted says Sayed-Khaiyum’s only purpose in seeking the committal proceedings is personal and political.

Apted adds Sayed-Khaiyum also did not indicate what other steps he took to protect justice.

He further says why did it take four months to bring the committal proceedings against Naidu adding that the lawyers for Sayed-Khaiyum are rushing through.

While responding to Apted, Sayed-Khaiyum’s lawyer, Devanesh Sharma told the court that they take offence to the idea that they are rushing and that a proper application was made.

Sharma says why did Naidu keep the Facebook post for four months and why didn’t Naidu write to the court notifying them of the typing error.

He further told the court that Naidu enabled 100 comments on the post.

Sharma adds that Naidu will be given every opportunity to raise his defence and that opportunity is not denied.

Naidu allegedly posted on his Facebook page a picture of a judgement in a case represented by his associate that had the word 'injunction' misspelt, and then made some comments that he was pretty sure the applicant wanted an injunction.

The judgement in the application by Naidu that his summons to set aside the ex parte order granting leave to Sayed-Khaiyum to apply for an order of committal against Naidu be set down for hearing in open court on a date to be fixed by the court reasonably convenient to the parties and counsel for the parties and that Sayed-Khaiyum attend the hearing of the Setting Aside Summons for cross-examination on his affidavit in support of the motion verifying facts relating to leave for committal sworn on 10th June, 2022 and filed on 22nd June 2022 will be delivered on the 1st of September.