WELLINGTON (Radio NZ International / Pacific Media Watch): New Zealand’s Sunday Star-Times newspaper says the Fiji Times may be forced out of business after being fined F300,000 (US$170,000) for contempt of court.
The Fiji Times was fined for reprinting a Sunday Star-Times article, which quoted Tai Nicholas of the Oceania Football Confederation questioning the Fiji judiciary.
Fiji’s Attorney-General said the comments scandalised the court and posed the risk of undermining public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the Fijian judiciary.
However, the Sunday Star-Times’ deputy editor, Michael Donaldson, said despite the court ruling, the paper stood by its original reporting.
He said the fine may be unaffordable for the Fiji Times.
“It’s a fine that is probably going to shut the newspaper down. And we’re outraged and appalled at this. We’ve reported a legitimate story. Our colleagues in Fiji have re-reported that and the price they’re paying for it is probably going out of business.”
Michael Donaldson said Fiji may well not have any press left to publish anything.
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Pacific Media Watch
