Benjamin Wainiqolo Padarath appeared in court today and was granted bail under strict conditions concerning an alleged social media offense. As part of the bail agreement, Padarath is banned from using social media in any form, whether under his real name or any pseudonym.
The court has stipulated that any online activity tied to his IP address would lead to his immediate detention. Additionally, he has been ordered to surrender his travel documents, with a stop-departure order issued against him.
The case has been rescheduled for a hearing on 18 February 2026. Fiji Police disclosed that Padarath is accused of sharing an altered newspaper article on his social media account, which reportedly included false and misleading information about two prominent individuals, believed to be political figures.
The investigation is being conducted under Section 24 of the Online Safety Act 2018, which addresses harmful electronic communications. This case highlights ongoing concerns about the use of social media to disseminate misinformation, emphasizing the legal ramifications that can arise from such actions.