24 Apr 2018

Fiji publication subjected to police intimidation says director

From , 5:04 am on 24 April 2018

The managing director of the Fiji magazine Islands Business believes a police case against him was designed purely to intimidate.

Samisoni Pareti was taken in by police in February, along with journalists Nanise Volau and Netani Rika, over an apparent breach of the Public Order Act, which guards against so-called malicious acts.
    
But the public prosecutor last week decided to drop the case, saying the article did not constitute any offence and the police file lacked evidence.

Mr Pareti told Jamie Tahana the arrests followed an article published during a lockout of workers at Nadi airport, which suggested that the magistrate who ruled in their favour had had his contract terminated.

Island Business' Samisoni Pareti

Island Business' Samisoni Pareti Photo: twitter