Assessors return with not guilty opinion on all charges in Fiji Times sedition trial

Assessors return with not guilty opinion on all charges in Fiji Times sedition trial

By Vijay Narayan and Dhanjay Deo
Saturday 19/05/2018
Happy with the assessors opinion; contributor Josaia Waqabaca, Fiji Times Limited Publisher Hank Arts, Editor-in-Chief Fred Wesley and Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula with their defence lawyers

All three assessors have returned with a not guilty opinion on all charges against Fiji Times Limited, Publisher Hank Arts, contributor Josaia Waqabaca, Editor‑in‑Chief Fred Wesley and Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula in the Fiji Times sedition trial.

High Court Judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe will deliver his judgement at 11.30am next Tuesday.

While summing up the case yesterday, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe told the assessors to read the Nai Lalakai article from the minds of reasonable and fair minded iTaukei readers.

He told the assessors to take into consideration under what circumstances the article was published and to consider the reaction of the readers.

Justice Rajasinghe told the three that he does not find the opinion of Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs, Naipote Katonitabua and Professor Paul Geraghty will be much help to the assessors as Geraghty has said that he did not have much interaction with the iTaukei community for the last 10 to 15 years as he was mainly teaching while Katonitabua had said that he used to talk to the iTaukei community at times.

He told the assessors to consider the truthfulness of the answers given in the caution interview.

Justice Rajasinghe says there was no investigation done to establish whether contributor, Josaia Waqabaca had given the petition to the Attorney General.

He also asked the assessors to consider the effect of the article on the intended readers and to consider all the circumstances after the publication of the article.

Justice Rajasinghe told the assessors to take as much time as they want because this was a very lengthy trial and also had lengthy closing submissions from both parties.

Fiji Times Limited, Publisher Hank Arts and contributor Josaia Waqabaca have pleaded not guilty to sedition while Editor-in-Chief Fred Wesley and Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula have pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting sedition.

It is alleged that Fiji Times printed the Nai Lalakai newspaper which contained an article which had content with a seditious intention to promote feelings of ill will and hostility between classes of the population.

FEATURE NEWS
We have observed a decline in the number of superbugs at CWM - MOH
The Ministry of Health has today said that they have observed a decline in the number of antibiotic-resistant organisms or superbugs being isolated at...
8 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Grace Road found to be breaching employment and health and safety laws
Grace Road Company throughout Viti Levu has been found to be breaching the Employment Relations Act 2007 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1996 ...
5 hours ago

USP Celebrates Global No.1 Rankings for Tourism and Hospitality Programmes
The University of the South Pacific (USP) has achieved global recognition for its excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education, earning the No. 1 ...
6 hours ago

Open-heart surgeries for Fiji and the region
Great news for the people of Fiji and the greater South Pacific Region as the regions largest and highest rated super-specialty private hospital ...
6 hours ago

Australia launches bill to ban social media for children under 16
The Australian Government has tabled a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and proposed fines of up to $73.3 ...
7 hours ago

6,659 drug cases recorded in 5 years with 1,615 cases recorded last year - ACP Raikaci
6,659 drug cases were recorded by the Fiji Police Force over the last five years, with last year seeing the highest with 1,615 cases. Acting ...
7 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Doctor Alipate Vakamocea on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Fiji Medical Association President, Doctor Alipate Vakamocea will appear on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan The show will focus on ...
8 days ago

Mangal and Akauola on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Adult Teen Challenge Fiji Executive Director, Hemraj Mangal and Director, Matai Akauola appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan The ...
8 days ago

Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
14 days ago

TOP