Suva High Court Judge Justice Jude Nanayakkara has refused Richard Naidu's lawyer's application to cross-examine Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in Naidu's committal proceedings case while Sayed-Khaiyum’s lawyer, Gul Fatima today asked the Judge if he wishes to begin contempt in the face of the court proceedings against Jon Apted.
Naidu allegedly posted on his Facebook page a picture of a judgement in a case represented by his associate that had the word 'injunction' misspelt, and then made some comments that he was pretty sure the applicant wanted an injunction.
The committal proceedings has been brought against Naidu by the Attorney General.
The hearing on the committal proceedings will take place on the 10th and 11th of November.
Following the Judge's ruling today, Sayed-Khaiyum’s lawyer, Fatima highlighted to the court that an article in the Fiji Times on the 15th of October quoted Jon Apted’s submission saying that if the evidence cannot be challenged then it would be a kangaroo court.
Fatima says this is contempt in the face of the court.
She says invariably, the statement would mean if an ordinary person reads the decision, they would tie it back to this article.
Justice Nanayakkara says Fatima may inform the registry about this as the contempt in the face of the court should be heard before another judge.
