On August 12, 2026, the 2nd Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of the Canton of Bern issued a procedural decision in the appeal brought by Alan White against his May 2025 conviction for defamation of Civitas Maxima Director Alain Werner.
The case stems from allegations made by White in a July 2021 email concerning Alain Werner and Hassan Bility, Director of the Global Justice and Research Project in Liberia, in connection with criminal cases against Liberian nationals. Alain Werner became aware of the email during the Alieu Kosiah appeal proceedings in January 2023 and filed a criminal complaint for defamation in April 2023. On May 27, 2025, the Jura-Bernois-Seeland Regional Court found Alan White guilty of defamation. White subsequently appealed the judgment.
In its latest decision, the court found no major procedural defects that would justify annulling the first-instance judgment or sending the case back to the lower court for a new decision. It identified one irregularity in the notification of the May 2025 hearing, but found that this caused White no prejudice. The court also rejected, at this stage, the defense’s request to hear four witnesses and indicated that it intends to hear White during the appeal proceedings.
The substance of the appeal, including whether White can establish the truth of his allegations or that he acted in good faith, will be examined later. The appeal remains ongoing.
Photo: Exterior of the Supreme Court of the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. © Ginkgo2g / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0