The Civil High Court has directed Richard Naidu to enter his plea, whether by counsel or by affidavit.

Naidu is alleged to have scandalised and ridiculed the courts and the judiciary in a Facebook post, where he made comments in relation to a judgment delivered by the High Court in Suva.

The Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has filed the proceedings for contempt against Naidu.

Naidu appeared yesterday before High Court Judge, Justice Jude Nanayakkara, represented by lawyers, Jon Apted and Wen Fi Chen.

The court heard that the Fiji Law Society had filed a Motion seeking orders for a Queen’s Counsel to conduct the hearing in their application for joinder via video link.

Justice Nanayakkara fixed the matter for hearing on Thursday at 2:30pm.

In the substantive matter, lawyers for the A-G, Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima said Naidu’s plea should be taken by either way of oral plea or through an affidavit.

Mr Apted said that he would file an appeal on the court’s rulings delivered in respect of Naidu’s Summons to cross-examine the A-G and the setting aside ex-parte orders.

Mr Apted also said that his client had the right to silence.

However, the Judge said that Naidu had to enter a plea.

Following this, Mr Apted said he did not have instructions on Naidu’s plea and he would advise the court of the same on Thursday.

The court has directed Naidu to take a plea on Thursday either by way of his counsel or by affidavit.

The matter has been adjourned for Naidu to enter his plea on Thursday and for hearing in the application by the Fiji Law Society for hearing on the joinder via video link.

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