Suva lawyer Tanya Waqanika has been granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court after making her first appearance before Senior Magistrate Sufia Hamza. Waqanika faces charges from the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for allegedly violating Section 14 of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
The charge stems from an incident on April 19, 2024, when Waqanika, who holds public officer positions as a board member of both Investment Fiji and Telecom Fiji Limited, reportedly expressed her opposition to the political party SODELPA through comments on her Facebook account.
During the hearing, Senior Counsel Joseph Works provided the first phase disclosures. Following this, the court has scheduled the case for adjournment on January 26.
This situation highlights the delicate balance between free speech and political conduct statutes in Fiji, prompting discussions on the implications for public officers engaging in political expressions. The outcome of this case may have significant ramifications for the intersection of law and political discourse in the country.
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