Suva lawyer Barbara Malimali announced her intention to challenge the charge against her client, Tanya Waqanika, in the High Court during proceedings at the Suva Magistrates Court. Waqanika faces a single count of publicly opposing a political party, specifically the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).
The charges stem from allegations that on April 19 of the previous year, Waqanika, who serves on the boards of both Investment Fiji and Telecom Fiji, expressed her opposition to SODELPA through comments made on her Facebook page.
During the court hearing, counsel from the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) noted that they had provided the first phase of disclosures but required additional time to complete the second phase. Waqanika has since been released on a bail bond of $2,500, secured by two sureties. As part of her bail conditions, she has been instructed not to commit further offenses and to refrain from changing her residential address.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 26. Should Waqanika be convicted, she faces significant penalties of up to $10,000 in fines, five years in prison, or both, reflecting the seriousness of the allegations against her.
This case highlights the ongoing legal scrutiny of political expressions and the implications of social media in contemporary governance and political interactions in Fiji.
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