SODELPA candidate, Anirudh Sharma who is facing contempt of Court charges in relation to his alleged post on social media against a presiding Magistrate in a criminal case pleaded not guilty at the Suva High court this morning.
It’s alleged that on 27th September, Sharma posted scandalous, defamatory and derogatory comments against the presiding Magistrate in the criminal proceeding against one Imran Khan, who was charged for one count of unlawful possession of illicit drugs.
Sharma posted comments on social media site Facebook together with a snapshot of a Fiji Sun article titled “Nasinu businessman appears for drug charge in Labasa”.
The High Court had granted leave to Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum last month to make an application for an Order of Committal against Sharma of Lajonia, Labasa for contempt of Court.
In court today, Sharma says he understands the severity of the court action.
The matter was called for hearing this morning however, Sharma’s lawyer Aman Ravindra-Singh requested seven days to go through the documents provided to them by the applicant as he has just come on board to represent Sharma.
The Attorney General’s Counsel objected for the hearing to be adjourned and sought cost saying the respondent knew about the matter.
The matter has been adjourned to the 4th of next month.
