The Investigating Officer in the sedition trial of The Fiji Times and others, Inspector Esili Nadolo has told the lawyer for Fiji Times Publisher, Hank Arts and Editor, Fred Wesley that they did not investigate to determine whether Arts understands the i-Taukei language.
During the cross examination by Queens Counsel Marc Corlett, the Investigating Officer said that Hank Arts was arrested as the Publisher.
Inspector Nadolo also confirmed that they knew that Arts did not understand the iTaukei language.
Corlett then put to Nadolo what investigations he or his colleague conducted to determine that Arts had ever seen Josaia Waqabaca’s letter before it was published in the Nai Lalakai.
Nadolo said that he was not sure whether Arts had seen the letter prior to being brought to the CID Headquarters.
Nadolo also agreed with Corlett that because Fred Wesley didn’t make any comments in his interview, Nadolo and his officers didn’t make an enquiry on whether Wesley had seen the letter.
Corlett also put to Nadolo that these men were arrested even though there was no communal antagonism in Fiji weeks after the letter was published.
Nadolo said that they had received a complaint by the Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs.
Corlett then asked Nadolo to present the letter of complaint that was written by the President’s Office regarding Justice William Marshall’s report to which Nadolo said he will look for the file in their archive. According to Waqabaca’s letter, he had said that Justice Marshall had said in the report that Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum should be incarcerated in Rotuma.
Waqabaca’s lawyer, Aman Ravindra Singh also asked Nadolo on the letter he obtained by a search warrant which talks about Justice Marshall’s report that was sent to the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Army Commander, Commissioner of Police, religious leaders, Ambassadors and to all the 201 chiefs.
Inspector Nadolo said that a letter of complaint was written by the Office of the President and Police had received a copy.
Singh also put to Nadolo that in the article there is a reference to Judge Marshall saying that Sayed-Khaiyum should be incarcerated in Rotuma. He put to Nadolo that this suggestion is not a criminal act. Nadolo said that he was just directed to do the investigation.
Singh also asked whether there were any complaints that the article caused hostility in the different classes of people. Nadolo said that the only complaint was from the Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs.
Fiji Times Limited, Publisher Hank Arts and Contributor, Josaia Waqabaca have pleaded not guilty to sedition while Fiji Times Editor Fred Wesley and Nai Lalakai Editor Anare Ravula have pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting sedition.
It is alleged that Fiji Times 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.
The case will continue before High Court Judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe this morning.
