The first case of defamation involving social media – Facebook was heard yesterday at the Suva High Court.

Emosi Radrodro, a former radio personality, is being sued by Fiji Fashion Week Limited and managing director Ellen Whippy-Knight for defamation.

The matter stems from series of postings made on Facebook by Radrodro making allegations against the company and Ms Whippy-Knight of sexual misconduct.

Ms Whippy-Knight’s lawyer, Emmanuel Narayan, informed the court that despite a pending case, Radrodro was still posting issues related to Fiji Fashion Week Limited and Ms Whippy-Knight on Facebook. His postings are related to issues for which he is being sued.

The matter was called before Judge Justice Mutu Nayagam as a civil matter.

Radrodro is being represented by Isireli Ramanu.

Ms Whippy-Knight took the stand yesterday and gave witness in court. She informed the court that she worked for Radrodro in 2004 as a Production Manager for his event called Join the Band.

Ms Whippy-Knight while giving evidence said: “It was a difficult eight months working with Radrodro as he would make remarks like: ‘Do you think you would look good with that skirt, it looks like netball net’, ‘This is my show and you are stealing it. You are not going to talk to the media anymore as your photo is always in the media.’”

The court heard that Radrodro had been posting statements on Facebook alleging that he was the reason of Ms Whippy-Knight’s success and that Fiji Fashion Week Ltd were “selling” off their models to “rich white men”.

Mr Ramanu will be presenting his four witnesses today, including Radrodro.

During cross-examination Mr Ramanu asked Ms Whippy-Knight if she remembered Radrodro lodging a Police complaint against her, to which she said yes. She informed the court that the basis of the complaint were allegations that she was “selling” the company’s models to “white men” and that she was sleeping with male models and that she was running a prostitution ring in Pacific Harbour and had clients from Papua New Guinea.

When asked what were her responses to these allegations, Ms Whippy-Knight said she was not involved in any such activities in any “way, shape or form”.

Ms Whippy-Knight informed the court that following allegations by Radrodro on Facebook, ticket sales for Fiji Fashion Week events dropped and they also had difficulties in recruiting models.

She also informed the court that till date her husband had spent close to FJ$2million in financing the events and that she had not “made a single cent from the events.”

The court heard that Radrodro was also urging public not to buy tickets to the Fiji Fashion Week events on Facebook.

Ms Whippy-Knight’s personal assistant and model manager was the second witness to take the stand yesterday.

She informed the court that she was embarrassed to be related to the company after Radrodro made allegations on Facebook about sexual misconduct.

She informed the court that after Radrodro’s postings on Facebook, they had seen a decrease in models coming to audition for their events.

The case continues today.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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