Judge to deliver ruling on particulars provided by State in Fiji Times sedition case
Justice Thushara Rajasinge will make a ruling on October 23 on how the particulars are to be provided by the State in the sedition case against Fiji Times Limited, the Fiji Times Publisher/General Manager Hank Arts, the Editor-in-chief Fred Wesley, the former Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula and Article writer to the Nai Lalakai Josaia Waqabaca.
The issue had arisen the last time when State lawyer, Yogesh Prasad, had filed the particulars of offence without the charge, which was not the correct form, and Justice Rajasinghe had informed Mr Prasad that there were no provisions that allowed the particulars of offence to be filed without the charge.
At the Suva High Court yesterday, Mr Prasad made an oral submission seeking a hearing to determine the procedure to providing further particulars.
Mr Rajasinghe told Mr Prasad to inform the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lee Burney, who is the lawyer in the carriage of this matter, to stop filing documents in such a manner and to file documents using the proper procedure.
He told both lawyers not to file documents without seeking the leave of the court first.
“Mr Burney is trying to adopt English law, which we do not need to adopt. The amended information has not complied with the proper procedure and the particulars of offence for 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused is incomplete,” said Mr Rajasinghe.
Both lawyers are to make written submissions after which a ruling will be made.
Fiji Times Limited, Arts, Wesley, former Nai Lalakai Editor Ravula and Waqabaca are all charged with a count each of sedition.
Arts, Wesley, and Fiji Times Limited are represented by Faizal Haniff, Ravula is represented by Nancy Choo and Waqabaca is represented by Aman Ravindra-Singh.