Arimu Investments Inc., the owner of Aiden by Best Western Hotel, has filed separate defamation lawsuits against Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his sister Hana Mohamed, seeking more than $250 million in damages over statements about the hotel’s ownership and alleged use of police resources.
The claims were filed in the High Court on Monday, through attorneys Sase Gunraj and Jayaram Sanasie. The company alleges that the publications falsely suggested its ownership was concealed and that it improperly benefited from police protection.
Against Azruddin Mohamed, Arimu is seeking more than $100 million in damages for defamation and more than $50 million in aggravated damages. The claim against Hana Mohamed seeks more than $50 million in each of those categories.
The company is also requesting exemplary damages, interest and costs in both proceedings, along with orders requiring the removal of the disputed material, apologies and retractions, and permanent injunctions against further defamatory publications.
The allegations in the filings are the company’s claims and have not been determined by the court.
The case against the Opposition Leader concerns remarks allegedly made at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on October 16, which were circulated on Facebook and TikTok, and a subsequent video published on his Facebook page on October 18.
According to the statement of claim, Mohamed questioned whether the Alphonso family owned the hotel only “on paperwork” and suggested that the “first family” had a beneficial ownership interest.
The filing also attributes to him claims that a police vehicle and approximately four officers had been stationed at the hotel around the clock for more than a year. Arimu alleges that those remarks portrayed the hotel as receiving preferential treatment at the expense of members of the public seeking police assistance.
The company rejects those assertions. In its claim against Mohamed, it identifies Clinton Alphonso, Lorenzo Alphonso and Geraldo Alphonso as its shareholders and says its ownership is a matter of public record.
Arimu further contends that the occasional presence of police officers and vehicles at the hotel forms part of security arrangements for visiting international dignitaries, foreign officials and other guests requiring protection. It denies benefiting from police resources in the manner alleged.
The separate action against Hana Mohamed concerns an October 16 Facebook post published under the name “Hana Khamelia”.
According to that filing, the post questioned the hotel’s beneficial ownership, described the alleged police deployment as a “Blatant abuse of state resources” and claimed that officers had been withdrawn after the Opposition Leader publicly raised the issue.
The company argues that the post, which included photographs associated with the hotel’s opening, suggested concealed ownership and improper access to public resources. It denies both implications.
In outlining the alleged harm, Arimu says the publications damaged its commercial reputation and goodwill and could undermine customer confidence, business relationships and future opportunities.
The claim against Azruddin Mohamed cites substantial online circulation, including more than 257,000 views on the Prime News Guyana Facebook page and more than 248,000 views on the Travis Chase page as of October 17. It also states that his October 18 video had attracted more than 102,000 views by October 19.
Arimu argues that the continued availability and potential republication of the material could prolong the alleged damage, warranting court orders in addition to monetary compensation.
