Criminal cases need admissible evidence, not social media posts: DPP

Social media posts about alleged crimes will not move the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to act – only admissible evidence will.

This was reiterated by Acting DPP Nancy Tikoisuva yesterday at the ODPP’s inaugural media workshop at Novotel Suva Lami Bay.

This in response to the growing trend of Fijians turning to social media to raise criminal complaints or demand prosecution action.

“Posting on social media, whilst that might create a lot of discussions, a lot of concerns, which we are free to do, is a constitutional right — there are restrictions when it comes to what we consider evidence,” Ms Tikoisuva said.

“We do not normally respond to social media posts. We only respond to evidence – admissible evidence.”

She explained that under Fiji’s criminal justice system, evidence must meet strict legal standards to be used in court.

Hearsay, information passed on second-hand or posted online is generally not admissible, with limited exceptions.

For a prosecution to proceed, witnesses must come forward, give statements through formal police investigation process, and that material must then be assessed by prosecutors.

Ms Tikoisuva said the public often misunderstood why DPP appeared silent on matters generating heavy online attention. She urged anyone with genuine knowledge of a crime to go through proper channels which is reporting to Police for a formal investigation can begin.

“Unless somebody comes forward, we rely on witnesses that come forward to give evidence and give their statements taken through the investigation process, that is something we will consider as evidence,” she said.