LONDON – Times has apologized to British billionaire business leader Nadhmi Auchi for a misleading news story published in hard copy and on its Web site. The story’s subject concerned the federal trial of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, an indicted Chicago entrepreneur.
The Times issued a clarification as follows: “We wish to make it clear that, in the original piece ‘Obama bagman is sent to jail over $3.5m payment by British tycoon’ (Feb1), we did not intend to suggest that there was any connection between the $3.5m loan from Mr. Auchi to Mr. Rezko and any approaches Mr. Rezko may have made to Illinois State officials. We apologise to Mr. Auchi for any misunderstanding.”
The apology to Auchi was also published in The Times newspaper.
The apology to Auchi follows on the heels of a number of retractions and apologies from members of the European news media for publishing false and misleading statements. Legal representatives for Auchi say they will not rest until the news media stop such falsehoods from appearing in their publications and online content.
Just days ago, British sister newspapers The Guardian and The Observer agreed to delete six articles on British tycoon Nadhmi Auchi from their Web content and databases as part of a settlement in a defamation case. The British papers also pledged to contact Web search engines to inform them of the articles’ removal.
In a letter from Guardian Media Group, the company’s legal counsel acknowledged the six articles contained “significant inaccuracies” and asked search engines to remove all links and hyperlinks to them.
The British papers also promised not to republish the six articles, after pledging to pay a substantial sum in relation to Auchi’s legal costs in the defamation case.
Internationally renowned law firm, Carter-Ruck handled the case. Partner, Alasdair Pepper said “It took the issue of proceedings for the Guardian to agree to stop publishing the articles, but they are now down and the matter resolved. Another publisher is now shortly to be sued over false material it is publishing on the internet, it having failed to heed a warning letter. A fulsome apology, injunction and substantial damages will be sought against it.”
Il Mondo, a leading Italian weekly business magazine, also acknowledged recently that it had published allegations that were “wholly false.” A representative from Schillings, Auchi’s London-based law firm in the case, said: “This was an interesting case because although Il Mondo is based in Italy it is still liable pursuant to English law to the extent that the content of its Web site is accessible here.” Schillings is a leading UK law firm protecting the reputations of high-profile individuals, corporations, and brands.
In other cases, The Sunday Times and Mail On Sunday apologised to Auchi for wrongly reporting in 2005 that he was embroiled in an investigation in the United States. The Sunday Times said that its report was based on an internal United States Department of Defense report that was subsequently discredited. The Financial Times, too, apologised to Auchi for making mistakes in an article published on 11 November 2003, which linked him to alleged corrupt practices in a mobile phone contract deal in Iraq.
In recognition of Auchi’s extensive business, charitable and humanitarian activities around the world, he has received eight awards and honorary appointments, including a number of Royal and state decorations, such as the Coat of Arms from Queen Elizabeth II.
Auchi was knighted by the late Pope, His Holiness John Paul II, with the Pontifical Order of Pope Saint Sylvester in 2004. That same year, Queen Elizabeth II granted Auchi his Coat of Arms. In addition, Auchi was decorated as an Officer of the Order of the Republic by His Excellency Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, president of the Tunisian Republic; was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence by His Majesty King Abudullah II of Jordan; awarded the First Grade of the Lebanese Order of merit and appointed Commander of the National Order of the Cedar and a Grand Officer in the National Order of the Cedar by His Excellency General Emile Lahoud of Lebanon; made Grao-Mestre da Ordem do Merito Anhanguera in Brazil; and honored by the Roman Catholic Sacred Military Constantian Order of St. George with the honour and dignity of Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I in recognition of Auchi’s major contributions to inter-church and inter-faith dialogue.
Auchi is also the president of the Anglo-Arab Organisation (AAO), a non-profit group that promotes the integration of British Arabs into mainstream British society, whilst retaining their identity.
The AAO philanthropy achievements include donations to charities, humanitarian causes and scientific research.
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