Prosecutors consider sedition charges against Fiji Times publisher and editor

Nai Lalakai letter writer Josaia Waqabaca outside the High Court in Suva yesterday. Image: RAMA/Fiji Times

By Vijay Narayan and Semi Turaga in Suva

Fiji’s Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lee Burney has informed the High Court in Suva that it is planned to amend the charges against The Fiji Times Limited, publisher Hank Arts, editor Fred Wesley, Nai Lalakai editor Anare Ravula and contributor Josaia Waqabaca.

Burney told the court yesterday that the the DPP office was now looking at sedition charges.

Fiji Times Limited publisher Hank Arts (front) and editor Fred Wesley at court yesterday. Image: FijiVillage.com

High Court judge Justice Thusara Rajasinghe has given the prosecution 21 days to consider whether sedition maybe a more appropriate charge.

The lawyer for Arts, Wesley and the Fiji Times Limited, Faizal Haniff, said that the prosecution should give the court a clear direction on which charge they wanted.

Haniff also said that they should have the courtesy to inform the defence.

The maximum penalty for sedition is 7 years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the judge has also told Waqabaca and Ravula not to expect unnecessary adjournments because their lawyers were not present in court.

Lawyer not present
Justice Rajasinghe raised concern about Waqabaca’s lawyer, Aman Ravindra Singh, as he had not appeared in the case for 3 consecutive times.

It is alleged that Arts, Wesley, Waqabaca, Ravula and The Fiji Times Limited made, or caused to be published, a statement in the iTaukei language in Nai Lalakai newspaper that is likely to incite dislike, hatred, or antagonism of the Muslim community.

The statement was published in a letter to the editor allegedly written by Waqabaca.

The case has been adjourned to March 23.