A Conservative donor, a businessman suing a former Conservative member for defamation, told a judge in the High Court why he decided not to file a proceeding against other members.
Mohammed Amersi accused Charlotte Leslie, a former member of Bristol Northwest, for publishing a “series of documents” to a number of “influential individuals” and damaging his honor.
He told Judge Nicklin, who oversaw a pre-hearing hearing in London’s High Court on Monday, why he decided not to “start proceedings” against Sir Nicholas Soames, a former member of Central Sussex. Told.
Amersi suggested that one reason was that a former parliamentary colleague “disappointed” Sir Nicholas because he was “close to the Prince of Wales.”
One of Amersi’s lawyers told the judge in a witness statement that Miss Leslie issued the document between December 2020 and mid-January 2021.
Nigel Tait said the “dissatisfied publication” made “serious” and “false” claims about Amersi’s “business and personal life.”
A lawyer representing Miss Leslie has shown that she is disagreeing with the allegations made against her.
Amersi also told the judge in a witness statement that he knew that Sir Nicholas had sent “one or more documents” to Conservative Co-Chair Ben Elliott.
He said he had decided not to “start proceedings” against Sir Nicholas, the grandson of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, for several reasons.
Mr Amersi said it was his belief that Sir Nicholas was “misunderstood” by Miss Leslie, not an “individual” who should be “responsible” for “dissatisfied publications.”
He discouraged the judge from starting a proceeding against Sir Hugo Swire, a former Conservative member of East Devon, because of Sir Nicholas’s “closeness to the Prince of Wales.” Said.
Amersi said he supported Charles’ “many charitable initiatives.”
He also said Bahrain’s ambassador Sheikh Fawaz suggested that “his king” would be “extremely upset” if Sir Nicholas was sued.
Amersi also sued the conservative Middle East Council – in which Miss Leslie is the director.
The judge heard that Mr. Amersi was the founder of the Conservative Party (COMENA) in the Middle East and North Africa.
In a witness statement, Amersi told the judge that he knew that “Sir Nicholas Somes had sent one or more documents to Elliott.”
He explained to Sir Nicholas the “context” that he decided not to initiate proceedings.
“Defendants seem to imply that they are defendants in these proceedings because they are easier targets,” he said.
“It was (and remains my belief) that Sir Nicholas was (wrongly) guided by (Miss Leslie), so he should do his own independent fact-checking. But he is not an individual to be held accountable. The publication complained. “
Amersi added:
“As a result of a lawyer’s investigation, we understand that Sir Nicholas and the King of Bahrain actually attended the Mons Officer Cadet School, which was closed in 1972, and transferred responsibility to the Royal Army Military School of Sandhurst.
“It became clear to me that if I sued Sir Nicholas, it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the Bahraini government to be involved in COMENA.”
He continued. “Finally, Sir Hugo Swire discouraged Sir Nicholas from initiating a proceeding against Sir Nicholas because of his proximity to the Prince of Wales, a number of charitable initiatives I support.”
Judge Nicklin made a decision on many legal issues on Monday.
He will oversee further hearings later this year.