Three senior staff of the Fiji Times Limited and a contributor will take their plea on September 21.

Fiji Times publisher Hank Arts, editor-in-chief Fred Wesley, editor Nai Lalakai Anare Ravula and a letter writer to the Nai Lalakai, Josaia Waqabaca, appeared before Suva Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne yesterday.

They are charged with inciting communal antagonism which stems from an article which was published in the Nai Lalakai on April 27, 2016.

Mr Somaratne has further extended their bail.

Waqabaca’s lawyer Kalisito Maisamoa told the court that the charge needed to be revisited by the prosecutor because his client was not part of Fiji Times Limited.

Lawyer Nick Barnes, who is representing Arts, Wesley and Ravula, told the court that Ravula was seeking another counsel and had sought time for two weeks.

Lee Burney of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, served full disclosures.

The court has been adjourned to September 21 for plea and bail variation hearing.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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