(Geneva, 28 May 2025) – On May 27, 2025, the criminal division of the Jura-Bernois-Seeland Regional Court, in Switzerland, found Mr. Alan White, a U.S. citizen, guilty of the offence of defamation committed on July 19, 2021 against Alain Werner, the Director of Civitas Maxima.
In an e-mail sent to a Swiss lawyer on that date, Alan White claimed that Alain Werner and Hassan Bility, Director of the Monrovia-based Global Justice and Research Project, had made millions of euros by pursuing criminal cases against Liberian nationals. According to this e-mail, these cases were suspicious, as they were based on false testimonies obtained in exchange for various things of value, such as sums of money or witness protection in Europe.
Alain Werner, having been informed of this e-mail during the Alieu Kosiah’s appeal before the Federal Criminal Court in January 2023, filed a criminal complaint on April 6, 2023 for defamation against Alan White.
On August 15, 2024, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Canton of Berne issued a summary penalty order convicting Alan White of defamation. Alan White objected to this order.
Two trial hearings were then held before the above-mentioned Court on April 28 and May 27, 2025. Alan White did not appear at these hearings, and was therefore tried in absentia.
In the grounds for its decision read out orally at the hearing, the Court found that the allegations of Alan White were clearly defamatory and recognized the seriousness of the attack on Alain Werner’s honor.
This judgment, which is not final, may be challenged by Alan White through an appeal or an opposition to the in absentia ruling within 10 days.
Alain Werner would like to express his gratitude to his lawyers, Paul Gully-Hart and George Ayoub, from the law firm Schellenberg Wittmer, for their exemplary dedication and professionalism throughout these proceedings.