News

Defense unhappy with the sedition charge

July 10, 2017 5:20 am

Suva High Court Judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe will deliver his ruling in an alleged sedition case involving three senior Fiji Times officials, the company and a letter writer later this month.

The case was called for hearing this afternoon.

Nai Lalakai Editor, Anare Ravula, The Fiji Times editor-in-chief, Fred Wesley, the company’s general manager and publisher, Hank Arts, the company and a letter writer, Josaia Waqabaca are charged with one count each of sedition.

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Ravula, Wesley, Arts and The Fiji Times Limited are challenging the amended charge against them.

Their counsels believe Prosecution has made one sedition offense charge into multiple charges and has held four people accountable.

They say only Waqabaca should face the sedition charges as he was the one with seditious intentions.

Ravula, Wesley, Arts and The Fiji Times Limited were initially charged with a count inciting communal antagonism each.

They are alleged to have published a letter in the Nai Lalakai newspaper in April last year that was likely to incite dislike, hatred or antagonism of the Muslim community.

The case will be recalled on July 27th.