Halal certifier accused rival of Islamic extremism links – then signed contract to replace them, court hears

A court ruled that the Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria suffered from malicious or injurious falsehood after a representative from Australian Halal Authority and Advisers told supplier Midfield Meats federal police were investigating the certifier for financing terrorism. Photograph: Loïc Venance/AFP/Getty Images

A halal certifier wrongly accused a rival of being connected to Islamic extremism to secure the business of a major meat supplier, a Victorian court has found.

The Victorian county court ruled that the Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria (ICCV) suffered from malicious or injurious falsehood when Midfield Meats cancelled a lucrative halal certification contract primarily because its managing director was told the Australian federal police were investigating the certifier for financing terrorism.