A Civil Law Court in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, on February 17, 2010 ordered the New Democrat, a privately-owned newspaper to pay an outrageous amount of US$ 900,000 as damages for defaming the reputation of Consolidated Group Incorporated, pay per view provider in Liberia.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent reported that the fine fell short of the 1.3 million US$ that the plaintiff demanded.

The fine followed an October 2008 article that New Democrat published accusing the former Public Works Minister, Lusinee Donzo, of engaging in underhand dealing with the group. The article headlined: "For Scrap Government paid 800-thousand US Dollars" alleged that the group supplied sub standards equipment to the ministry.

The correspondent said the newspaper's counsel has expressed an interest to appeal.

Meanwhile, Boima Boima, a New Democrat photographer who attempted taking photographs of jurors after the court session was harassed by court officials and had his camera damaged.