Not sure where you are from, but in the US we have much more speech leniency. In the US I highly doubt his statement is actionable for slander, especially since

Not sure where you are from, but in the US we have much more speech leniency. In the US I highly doubt his statement is actionable for slander, especially since he wrote "appears" and never made the claim that a cushy job was offered in exchange for favorably treatment.