Former Fijian journalist Charlie Charters has entered a plea of not guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting an unidentified individual connected to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). Charters appeared today at the Suva Magistrates Court before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad to face the charges.
The allegations against Charters stem from incidents that allegedly occurred between November 2, 2025, and December 14, 2025. During this period, he is accused of intentionally assisting a FICAC officer in committing an offense under Section 13G(1) of the FICAC Act 2007. The prosecution contends that the offense pertains to the unauthorized publication of official Commission information on his Facebook account, “Charlie Charters,” which violated the requirement for written permission from the Commissioner.
Additionally, it is alleged that on February 2 of this year, Charters repeated this offense by again posting official information without the necessary authorization. Magistrate Prasad granted Charters a variation in his bail conditions, permitting him to travel to Australia for work commitments starting tomorrow, with a requirement to return to Fiji by March 26.
The Magistrate has mandated that if Charters fails to return by the specified date, he will forfeit $20,000 per surety, and the trial will proceed in his absence. The case has been adjourned to March 30, with a hearing date set for September 1 and 2.
This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny of media conduct in relation to governmental transparency and adherence to regulations, reflecting broader issues of accountability within public institutions.
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