Businessman faces contempt proceedings over alleged video about Chief Justice

The Attorney-General’s Office has initiated contempt of court proceedings against businessman Feroz Gulam Mohammed over an alleged social media video concerning Chief Justice Salesi Temo.

An inter-parte application was filed in the Civil High Court in Suva two weeks ago and is awaiting service on Mohammed.

The matter was called before a three-member panel comprising Justice Savenaca Banuve, Justice Dane Tuiqereqere and Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull today.

Deputy State Solicitor Ofa Solimailagi told the court that the Attorney-General’s Office had communicated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Interpol in an effort to obtain Mr Mohammed’s address in Auckland, New Zealand.

Ms Solimailagi said they had managed to contact Mr Mohammed last Friday and were now waiting for his return from Canada.

She also told the court that O’Driscoll and Seruvatu Lawyers had received some form of instructions and that three options were available to the court.

These were:

• substituted service;
• awaiting Mohammed’s return; or
• service out of jurisdiction.

The court has given Mohammed time to be served and respond to the application. The High Court has set September 21 for the hearing of the matter.