Suva Magistrate Seini Puamau has raised concerns on the charges brought by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to the court.

She said the State prosecution brought embarrassment to the magistrate by not doing their job right.

This is in the case of Fiji Trades Union Congress and National Workers Union general secretary, Felix Anthony, who is facing a charge for allegedly making a malicious comment.

Anthony appeared before Magistrate Puamau yesterday at the Magistrates Court in Suva, charged with one count of malicious acts.

He is alleged to have knowingly spread abroad by word of mouth, to Fiji Times journalist Felix Chaudhary, false news relating to the expiry of Water Authority of Fiji’s workers’ contracts, false news which tended to create or foster public anxiety.

The alleged offence took place on April 26, 2019, in Suva.

Anthony was detained by the Police from his house in Lautoka on the evening of June 27. Anthony was represented by Filimoni Vosarogo.

Mr Vosarogo told the court that he would be making legal representations to the Director of Public Prosecutions to clarify the initial charge on whether they would intend to proceed with the charge.

He also told the court that the charge was vague and he would be seeking clarification on which statement the State was pursuing in this matter as there were many statements made by his client, Anthony, between April 26 and May 1, 2019.

Magistrate Puamau said the allegations were based on the statements made by the accused on April 26.

She said the state needed to do a better job in regards to filing the charges.

She adjourned the case to August 10 to fix a hearing date.

Bail for Anthony was further extended.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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