Malani’s Win After Five-Year Legal Battle
Ms Malani thanked their former lawyer, John Rabuku, Simione Valenitabua, and the former A-G, Siromi Turaga, for their support and dedication in having the case dismissed.
Saturday 12 July 2025 | 23:30
From left: Veronica Malani, lawyer, Sitiveni Raikanikoda and Manoa Malani outside the High Court in Suva
Beranadeta Nagatalevu
Veronica and Manoa Malani, a couple who were sued by the Attorney-General’s Office in 2021 for contempt of court, were all smiles on Tuesday after the High Court in Suva dismissed their case.
After five years of battling the case and a brief adjournment on Tuesday to address administrative issues, Justice Vishwa Dutt assured the couple not to worry, as they were “free.”
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In 2021, the couple was served with an application for an order of committal in the High Court for allegedly making comments against the judiciary and its members on September 10 via a live video posted on Facebook.
The application, which was initiated by the A-G’s office, alleged that the couple were in contempt because the video:
- was deliberately made with the intention to scandalise the court and the judiciary in Fiji; and
- was a scurrilous attack on members of the judiciary, thereby undermining or posing a real risk of lowering the reputation of the judiciary, public confidence in the judiciary, and the administration of justice in Fiji.
They sought orders that the couple:
- be imprisoned;
- each pay $50,000 for court costs; and
- any other order(s) the court may deem just.
During the case, the defendants maintained that there were no proceedings before the court when the posts were made on social media, and therefore, there was no issue of contempt of court.
However, the applicants argued that while it may not have been their intention to scandalise the court, Fiji is a small country, so the nature of the jurisdiction was relevant.
They contended that the statements were contentious, scandalising the Chief Justice and the judiciary by alleging bias.
On August 23, 2023, the A-G’s office filed another application to discontinue the case.
After more than a year, Justice Sharma finally called the case for judgment.
Ms Malani thanked their former lawyer, John Rabuku, Simione Valenitabua, and the former A-G, Siromi Turaga, for their support and dedication in having the case dismissed.
She also thanked God for his protection and for showing her a beacon of hope as she continues to fight her other cases in court.
