Lui Vuibureta, a 31-year-old farmer and TikTok content creator known as “X‑con,” told the Suva High Court he is remorseful and apologised to Minister Lynda Tabuya for making inappropriate remarks during a live video, the latest development in a case that has drawn widespread public attention.
Vuibureta appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar on Monday for the reading of his summary of facts and mitigation submissions. His lawyer, Eroni Navuda, told the court that Vuibureta had entered an early guilty plea and was “sincerely sorry” for the harm caused by his conduct. Navuda said Vuibureta’s family is prepared to present a traditional apology to Minister Tabuya and to pay a fine of up to $2,000 as part of efforts to make amends.
The court heard that Vuibureta has no previous convictions and has already spent 46 days in remand. Navuda urged the court to take those factors into account, arguing the public backlash his family has faced since the video circulated should operate as a further deterrent. Counsel also requested that any custodial sentence be suspended.
Prosecutors told the court they had received and read aloud a victim impact statement from Minister Tabuya, outlining how the incident has affected her. The contents of the statement were not disclosed in detail in open court, but the fact that it has been lodged signals the State’s emphasis on the personal consequences of the remarks.
During mitigation, the court learned Vuibureta had been heavily intoxicated at the time of the live broadcast and only appreciated the gravity of his actions the following day after seeing the recording on Facebook. Navuda emphasised his client’s expression of remorse and early plea as mitigating factors, while the State will weigh the victim’s statement and the public interest in sentencing.
Vuibureta also faces separate proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court on three charges of breaching bail conditions. Those counts allege he failed to surrender travel documents and failed to deactivate his social media accounts as required. That matter has been adjourned to March 17, 2026.
Justice Goundar is scheduled to deliver sentence in the High Court next Tuesday. The outcome will determine whether Vuibureta receives a suspended sentence, a fine, or a custodial term, and will take into account time already served on remand, his lack of prior convictions, the victim impact statement and the State’s submissions.
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