Marlon Samuels takes to court ex-Aussie pacer for derogatory comment

“He’s tied up with some shady people back in the West Indies….he’s a guy you don’t muck around with on or off the field. He’s from Kingston, Jamaica, it’s one of the murder capitals of the world…he’s tied up with gangs there, it goes well beyond cricket,” Lawson told the radio podcast, 'Big Sports Breakfast', on April 4, after Samuels led the West Indies team to a memorable triumph in the final of the World T20 at Kolkata, reported the Indian Express.

Samuels' law suit also includes the name of Australian journalist James Matthey, who published a news article on news.com.au which accused Samuels of ‘being involved with criminal gangs in Jamaica’.

The Jamaican released a statement stating that he is just defending his integrity and values. “Samuels has no criminal record nor has been the subject of any criminal investigations. The comments were published and aired with the absence of conducting proper journalist research, nor where Samuels contacted to give his views on the damaging remarks about his character.

“Through this case, I intend not only to defend my integrity and my image as an international cricketer but also the values I have defended all my career. I also wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished.”

“If I win this case any compensation awarded I will donate some of the proceeds to the Marlon Samuels Society for the Blind in Jamaica,” read the official statement by Samuels, reported the Indian Express.