Former SODELPA MP Ratu Isoa Tikoca has been ordered to pay Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum $80,000 as total damages within 30 days.
Tikoca had defamed Sayed-Khaiyum.
High Court Judge, Justice Vishwa Datt Sharma has also ordered Tikoca to render in writing a public retraction and apology to Sayed-Khaiyum which also has to be published in the newspapers.
He has also been ordered to pay $5,000 to Sayed-Khaiyum as costs.
In 2018, Tikoca intentionally or recklessly slandered Sayed-Khaiyum in an interview with a Sydney Community Radio Station where he spoke in the i taukei language and made statements without due regard to the truth or veracity of its contents.
Tikoca had said that contractual arrangements have been implemented for civil servants from three months to five years and within five years, the amount of civil servants being replaced will amount to 2,550 people.
He said that these people are the ones that stand in the way of Sayed-Khaiyum.
Tikoca had further falsely said this is the devious scheme that Sayed-Khaiyum is masterminding without Bainimarama having a clue whatsoever.
Justice Sharma says the allegations made in the statements are very serious in nature and it does not give anyone or the defendant in particular any license or freedom to make these allegations unless they are true in nature and justifiable on very strong grounds. Justice Sharma says Tikoca’s statements caused substantial damage to Sayed-Khaiyum’s reputation in his capacity as a member of the parliament, Minister for Economy and the Attorney General.
He says the words published by Tikoca were calculated to disparage Sayed-Khaiyum in his profession and bring him into contempt, hatred, ridicule and to injure his character.
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