PRIME Minister Dr Derek Sikua is suing the Island Sun newspaper for defamation of character.He and Secretary to Cabinet Jeremiah Manele have filed a joint suit in the High Court against the newspaper on April 27.
This was over a news article the paper published last year.
The article alleged Dr Sikua and Mr Manele got drunk while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York and misbehaved in a hotel there.
They both denied the allegation and accused the paper of defaming their characters.
A spokesman from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Dr Sikua and Mr Manele filed the joint action.
“This is a private case so they’ve engaged private lawyer Primo Afeau,” the spokesman said.
The High Court confirmed receiving the case, but said they are yet to set a date for hearing.
Dr Sikua and Mr Manele threatened to sue the paper immediately after the article was published, but they haven’t filed that until last week.
Island Sun editor Priestley Habru said yesterday they’ve received documents on the case from the High Court.
“Our lawyer is preparing our defence,” Mr Habru said.
Earlier, he said they stand by their report and are prepared to go to the court over the matter.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
solomonstarnews.com
Dr. Derek Sikua is suing a small news agency which will eventually cost hundreds of thousands of tax-payers money to defend his ass. He alleged that the news agency defamed his character by claiming that he and his pres-sec. got drunk and went to the United Nation General Assembly in New York, USA. While such story may amount to defamation of ones good reputation, it doesn't surprised me that the accused was the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands. A man known for his over indulging in alcohol and partying. Allegations over his alcoholic behavior have already been published in the local media back then, which perhaps gained more attention than the Sogavare conversation with Solomon Mamaloni who died some ten years ago, shortly after his inauguration.
In 2006, Dr. Sikua was summoned to appear in court for counts of harassing police and drunk-driving. These charges would have resulted in Dr. Sikua's booted off his position as the PM, but in a corrupt country such as Solomon Islands, such was just a slap on the wrist. In his explanation of what actually occurred between him and the police, Dr. Sikua said he wasn't drunk but admitted that he used bad languages to the Police, such an out-o-control behaviour could only be seen in drunk idiots.
But in the same affidavit, Dr. Sikua admitted stopping at a bottle shop. You kidding me Hon. Prime Minister? You stopped at the bottle shop, a shop that only selld beer, and denied ever got drunk? And by the way, this is the characteristic of a man who supposed to be the head of the government? and a man who is now suing a news agency for reporting of that instance in New York? Your reputation had already been tarnished in the past by your drinking behavior, both in your office and while driving on public roads. Do you think that you could get away with this simply because you were in New York? this is ridiculous!
Dr. Sikua must not use tax-payers money to defend his ass and his secretary's butt on this worthless lawsuit. You are wasting tax-payers money and time! You should have sued solomontimes, Solomonstar, and SIBC for reporting on your DUI and for swearing at the police officers!
Dr. Sikua accused of DUI and Swearing at cops. His explanation?
Dr. Sikua failed to appear in Court to hear charges; Arrest Warrant issued. Solomonstarnews.com
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