Suva lawyer Tanya Waqanika is set to contest charges brought against her by the Fijian Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) in the High Court of Suva. Ms. Waqanika’s legal representative, Barbara Malimali, confirmed this during her client’s inaugural appearance before Senior Magistrate Sufia Hamza.
Ms. Waqanika is facing allegations of publicly indicating opposition to a political party, which violates section 14 (7) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, in conjunction with Section 14 (1) (d). The charge stems from an incident on April 19 last year, where FICAC contends that Ms. Waqanika, as a public official—a board member of Investment Fiji and Telecom Fiji Ltd—made opposing comments about the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) on her Facebook page.
Ms. Malimali has indicated that a stay application will be filed regarding the proceedings. Following her appearance, Ms. Waqanika was granted release under strict and standard bail conditions, and the prosecutor, Joseph Works, noted that FICAC would not seek a stop-departure order against her.
The case has been postponed and is scheduled for January 26 of the following year. This situation highlights ongoing tensions within Fiji’s political landscape and raises important questions about the scope of free speech for public officials. As the case develops, it will be essential to observe how it impacts political discourse in the nation.