24 year old Josaia Bulivono Naitukunivalu who is charged with incitement to violence and disobedience of law has been granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court.
It is alleged that on the 4th of April, Naitukunivalu without a lawful excuse published on his Facebook profile on the "Live Facebook Fiji One News Page on COVID-19", "let's all breach the curfew & see who will rule this country, pathetic" implying that it is desirable to defeat by lawful means the enforcement of any written law, namely Public Health (Infectious Disease) Regulation 2020.
He has been granted bail on a cash surety of $1000.
Naitukunivalu told the court that he is unemployed.
In response, Magistrate Seini Puamau responded that he should do something more productive and if he cannot contribute to the economy, then he must be quiet.
Magistrate Puamau later apologised to the court for her statement, saying that she does not intend to hinder Naituku-nivalu’s freedom of speech.
She also stated that this is not America.
The case has been adjourned to the 17th of June.
