A U.S. federal judge has reduced the $18 million defamation award initially granted by a jury against former Member of Parliament for Assin Central kennedy Ohene Agyapong to just $500, following a motion for remittitur filed by Agyapong’s legal team.
The defamation case was brought by award-winning investigative journalist Anas Aremyaw Anas, who was earlier vindicated by a jury that found Agyapong guilty of maliciously defaming him. The original award of $18 million was seen by many as a significant legal victory for Anas.
However, Agyapong’s legal team contested the size of the award, prompting the court to reconsider the amount. While the judge upheld the jury’s finding that Agyapong had indeed defamed Anas, he described the monetary compensation as “excessive” and reduced the damages to $500.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Anas stated that the case was never about money, but about justice and truth.
“Our victory is in the judgment and not the award,” Anas said.
