Andrew Morton fined for Kenyan defamation

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- British author Andrew Morton has been ordered to pay nearly $81,000 to Kenyan Chief Justice Evan Gicheru for defamation, it was reported Saturday.

Morton, the biographer of Princess Diana and Madonna, wrote Gicheru received special favors in exchange for positive rulings in his 1998 book "Moi: The Making of an African Statesman," the BBC reported Saturday.

Kenya's High Court convicted Morton of defamation in 2000 and ordered him to pay Gicheru just over $33,600, the BBC said.

Gicheru contested the award in court, saying it was too low and did not reflect his standing in society. His appeal sought nearly $400,000.

An appeals court agreed with his argument Friday, but also ruled the $400,000 damage award sought was excessive, the BBC said.