The trial of Fiji Times Limited, Publisher Hank Arts, Editor Fred Wesley, Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula and contributor Josaia Waqabaca will be held from next Tuesday to the 15th of December.
The charges were earlier amended from inciting communal antagonism to sedition.
Fred Wesley’s lawyer, Faizal Haniff has objected to some of the particulars of his client’s charge saying that there are no specifics on the particulars of the charge for Wesley.
Haniff says a specific intention of Wesley is not mentioned in the charge adding that information on the charge sheet must show how Wesley was intending to aid and abet the alleged offence.
Anare Ravula’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma withdrew his earlier objection to the charge and said that his client is ready for the trial.
While responding to Haniff, Assistant DPP, Lee Burney said that it was Wesley’s duty as an Editor to uphold the editorial guidelines and the allegation is clear.
Burney says someone pressed the print button at the printing press and it is clear that one of the employees was told to print the article.
He says the prosecution does not need to prove who the employee was.
Burney says the contents of the Nai Lalakai article had a tendency to create ill-will between sections of the community.
Judge Thusara Rajasinghe has asked all counsels in this matter to provide submissions on whether the contents of the article has promoted ill will between sections of the community or whether it has a tendency to create ill will.
He says they will have to explain what is the definition of the charge.
The ruling on Haniff’s objection will be delivered this Wednesday.
According to the amended information earlier filed and served to Fiji Times Limited and others, it is alleged that Fiji Times, on the 27th of April last year printed the Nai Lalakai newspaper which contained an article which had content with a seditious intention to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between classes of the population.
