High Court Judge, Justice Salesi Temo summoned Fiji Times journalist, Zeke White to court yesterday after he reported the Timoci Lolohea murder sentence inaccurately.
During this hearing, it was also revealed that the inaccurate report was checked by the Acting Chief of Staff and lawyer, Jon Apted.
Justice Temo raised serious concern in court after Fiji Times reported that Lolohea was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment. In fact, Justice Temo had handed Lolohea a mandatory life sentence.
Judge Temo asked Fiji Times lawyer, Jon Apted who appeared with Zeke White, on whether Apted agrees that it is important that the mass media reports court proceedings correctly to the public.
Apted agreed to this.
Justice Temo then asked Apted whether White heard what he said about the importance of reporting domestic murder sentences. He stated to Apted that when he came to the courthouse the day after the sentencing, Justice Temo was told about the Fiji Times article.
Judge Temo says he does not believe in reading newspapers.
He said that people said that the Fiji Sun was reporting correctly and Fiji Times was not.
Fiji Times lawyer, Jon Apted who appeared with Zeke White
Justice Temo also said that the court system is such that copies of the sentences are available to the journalists.
Apted said that reporter, Zeke White did hear Justice Temo’s comment about the need of reporting correctly.
Justice Temo then asked Apted why White did not report correctly.
Apted said that White reported what he understood. He said that White misunderstood the sentence and it was his misunderstanding.
Apted said that White did not do this deliberately.
When asked on White’s qualification, Apted said that White is a cadet reporter and had a Certificate in Journalism.
Justice Temo then asked Apted on who double checks the story as his understanding is that the superiors check the story.
Jon Apted then said that on that day, there was a shortage of reporters and White ended up alone for the sentencing.
Apted said that there is a checking system and it was checked however the superiors relied on the reporter’s notes.
Justice Temo then asked who checked the story. Apted said that it was checked by the Acting Chief of Staff, Nasik Swami.
Apted also said that the story was also sent to him and he did not notice the error.
Justice Salesi Temo then told Apted that “you are as old as the furniture in court.”
Apted said that he had assumed that the story was accurate however they have learnt tthat it is not accurate.
Justice Temo said that the reason for him bringing up this matter is that he presides over a number of domestic murder cases.
He said there is no Men’s Crisis Centre in Fiji and there are other people who may have similar problems as Lolohea and it is very important to report accurately as people also take legal lessons from Fiji Times and for them not to resort to murders.
The judge told the Fiji Times that they should tell the people that if you choose to do what Lolohea did then you will get mandatory life sentence, not 18 years.
Justice Temo said it is necessary for White to learn from this. He said who knows someone in Ra would be going through the same problem as Lolohea where the wife would be cheating the husband and through this case, Justice Temo is telling the people that you will get mandatory life sentence for murder.
Judge Temo told Apted that he wants to teach White a lesson as he may save a woman or man’s life. He then questioned Apted whether he can get an undertaking that White will report court sentences accurately in the future. Apted said yes he gives that undertaking.
Judge Temo said that he was thinking of doing contempt proceedings but he won’t do that.
Apted then said that Fiji Times apologizes for the error which will not be repeated and he also thanked the judge for his mercy.
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