TRIAL STARTS FOR FIJI TIMES

EXECUTIVES AND COLUMN WRITER

On the first count of sedition, between April 20 and 27 of 2016, Waqabaca is alleged to have done a seditious act, namely submitted an article written by him under the heading “Sa notisi taki na Vunilawa” translated as “Notice to the Attorney-General” for publication in the Nai Lalakai newspaper, with a seditious intention to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different classes of the population of Fiji, namely between non-Muslim and Muslims. On the second count Ravula is charged with aiding and abetting sedition. On or about April 27, 2016 Ravula is alleged to have aided and abetted Hank Arts to publish an article under the heading “Lewa ni Notisitaki” translated as “Order on Notice” in the Nai Lalakai newspaper published on April 27, 2016, which was a seditious publication in that it had a tendency to promote ill-will and hostility between different classes of the population of Fiji, namely between non-Muslim and Muslims (‘the said seditious publication’). The charge read that as the editor of Nai Lalakai newspaper Ravula was allegedly under a contractual duty to assist Hank Arts to publish the April 27, 2016 edition of Nai Lalakai newspaper. This is by ensuring editorial standards were maintained, including a duty to prevent the publication of any seditious publication therein. And his failure to prevent the publication of the said seditious publication aided and abetted Hank Arts to publish the said seditious publication. On the third count of aiding and abetting sedition it is alleged that on or about April 27, 2016 Fred Wesley aided and abetted Arts to publish an article under the heading “Lewa ni Notisitaki” translated as “Order on Notice” in the Nai Lalakai newspaper published on April 27, 2016. This was a seditious publication in that it had a tendency to promote ill-will and hostility between different classes of the population of Fiji, namely between non-Muslim and Muslims (‘the said seditious publication’). As the editor-in-chief of Nai Lalakai newspaper Wesley was allegedly under a contractual duty to assist Arts to publish the April 27, 2016 edition of Nai Lalakai newspaper by ensuring editorial standards were maintained, including a duty to prevent the publication of any seditious publication therein. And his failure to prevent the publication of the said seditious publication aided and abetted Arts to publish the said seditious publication. On the fourth count Arts is charged with sedition. On April 27, 2016 as the publisher of Nai Lalakai newspaper he allegedly published an article under the heading “Lewa ni Notistaki” translated “Order of Notice” in the April 27, 2016 edition of the Nai Lalakai newspaper. This was a seditious publication in that it had a tendency to promote ill-will and hostility between different classes of the population of Fiji, namely between Non-Muslim and Muslims. For the fifth count of sedition, Fiji Times Limited, being a company having its registered office at 177 Victoria Parade, Suva, and as the printer of Nai Lalakai newspaper, allegedly printed the April 27, 2016 edition of the Nai Lalakai newspaper, which contained an article under the heading “Lewa ni Notistaki” translated as “Order on Notice”. This was a seditious publication in that it had a tendency to promote ill-will and hostility between different classes of the population of Fiji, namely between non-Muslim and Muslims. Assistant DPP Lee Burney is representing the State assisted by State lawyers Yogesh Prasad and Unaisi Tamanikaiyaroi. Waqabaca is represented by Aman Ravindra-Singh, Ravula is represented by Devanesh Sharma, Wesley and Arts are represented by Marc Corlett and Nicholas Barnes and the Fiji Times company is represented by Wylie Clarke.