PAPE'ETE: A compensation claim is to go to court in French Polynesia tomorrow lodged by a small magazine, U-TOPIC.
This comes after its journalists were exonerated over a story in 2006 about bottled water sold by the Tahiti Brewery, producers of Hinano beer.
The journalists have issued a statement, saying they had been sued for defamation after they reported excessive nitrate content that posed a risk to children.
They were also accused of forging the French laboratory reports at the centre of their story, prompting the authorities to detain them for 21 hours each, search their premises and seize their computer.
The case was thrown out earlier this year and the journalists are now seeking compensation from Tahiti Brewery for taking abusive legal action against them. - Radio NZ International/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
