Journo pleads not guilty in case of defamation

A MAN has pleaded not guilty to posting defamatory comments against Chief Migration Officer Solomon Kantha on Facebook.
Police allege that between April 5 and June 7 last year, Simon Eroro, 40, from Popondetta, Northern, posted defamatory comments against Kantha and Minister for Immigration and Border Security Petrus Thomas.
Eroro, a freelance journalist, pleaded not guilty to two counts of defamatory publication before Waigani District Court Magistrate Cosmas Bidar.
He is alleged to have accused Kantha of being involved in corruption, bribery, and breaching the Migration Act in relation to the entry of a Chinese national.
The alleged offences began on April 5 last year, when Eroro posted on Facebook comments defaming Kantha and Thomas.
The page had more than 100,000 followers.
The post received 122 reactions, 43 comments and 14 shares.