Court orders Tabuya to temporarily deactivate social media accounts

Picture: Patrick Feller/Flickr

By WANSOLWARA STAFF

Opposition Whip Lynda Tabuya has been ordered by Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili to temporarily deactivate all her social media accounts for the duration of the court proceedings after she pleaded not guilty to the charge of malicious act under the Public Order Act.

She appeared before Chief Magistrate Ratuvili at the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday and was granted bail despite objections from the State.

According to FBC News, while submitting her bail application Tabuya’s lawyers argued that in reference to the Bail Act, their client was entitled to bail having already been detained for 96 hours, adding their client was charged on Friday March 27 with the offence and should have been produced in court within 24 hours.

Chief Magistrate Ratuvili instructed that the accused pay a non-cash bond of $2000, report to her nearest police station on a Friday every fortnight, not to interfere with State witnesses in the case, not to change her current residential address and surrender all travel documents.

A stop departure order was also issued against the 47-year-old mother of six.

Tabuya, a Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) MP, was taken in for questioning by police last Thursday after allegedly posting malicious writings of false news or reports on social media intended to create or foster public alarm, public anxiety and disaffection.

The alleged post on popular social media platform, Facebook, read: “Stock up food Viti! Have a guaranteed farm supply. It’s about to get real! #COVIDready and “Let’s just get one thing straight Fiji, the Government brought Coronavirus into Fiji, NOT Soko #StopBlamingThePeople #CriminalNegligence”

Meanwhile, transgender advocate Dr Isireli Biumaitotoya was also taken in for questioning over a similar offence. He was later released and took to his social media account to relay his experience.

Tabuya’s case will be recalled on April 6.