Attorney-General Files Application to Dismiss Case
The Attorney- General (A- G) Siromi Turaga has filed an application to set aside Richard Naidu’s judgment and committal proceeding case to be dismissed. The matter was called before High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar on Friday at the High Court in Suva. Naidu was represented by lawyer Jon Apted.
The A-G was previously represented by the A-G’s Office, however, the court was informed of a change in counsel which has lawyer Feizal Haniff now representing the A-G. Mr Haniff informed the court that he had filed an application to set aside the judgment passed by the Civil High Court last November where Naidu was found guilty of contempt of court for scandalising the court.
Mr Haniff said the application was consented to by the respondent and his lawyer. Justice Goundar said he had yet to go through with the application.
Mr Haniff served a copy of his submissions on the application to the court and Mr Apted.
He told the court that the application to set aside the judgment was made under Order 32 of the High Court Rules 1988.
He said although the judgment was delivered, it was not perfected or sealed.
Mr Apted said he was supporting the application by Mr Haniff.
Justice Goundar said he would go through the application and the submission filed by Mr Haniff before he could decide whether an oral hearing was required in the matter. He has given time until Wednesday to Mr Apted to file his submissions.
The matter will be called on June 13 for Justice Goundar’s decision.
The former Civil High Court Judge Justice Jude Nanayakkara had ruled that Naidu scandalised the court and convicted him accordingly.
Naidu scandalised and ridiculed the court and the judiciary in a Facebook post where he made comments in relation to a judgment delivered by the High Court in Suva.
The former A-G, Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum had filed the proceedings against Naidu for ridiculing the Judiciary in the Facebook post. filed