. Australian venture capitalist Mark Caruso, who is suing six South Africans for alleged defamation relating to his mining interests in the country, has been fired as chief executive officer by the board of his mining company. Last year, Caruso stepped down as executive chairperson of Mineral Commodities Ltd (MRC), after being arrested on charges of aggravated home burglary and assault, but he retained his position of chief executive. Caruso’s firing was announced in a short statement by MRC on 25 March. On 1 April he was convicted on a drunk-driving charge and has had his licence suspended. Caruso and MRC, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, are two of three plaintiffs in a R14.25-million defamation case being brought in the Western Cape high court against three environmental lawyers, two community activists and a social worker. The litigation relates to MRC’s mining activities near Lutzville on the West Coast and at Xolobeni on the Transkei Wild Coast. The third plaintiff is one of the company’s South African black empowerment partners.