Man charged with defamatory publication

By BOURA GORUKILA
A 56-YEAR-OLD man charged with producing a defamatory publication, appeared before Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Tracy Ganaii on Friday.
Reuben Elijah, of Kaubwaga village in Samarai-Murua, Milne Bay, was charged with one count of defamatory publication.
It was alleged that between May 4 and May 8, in Port Moresby, Elijah, intentionally and without excuse or justification, used the internet (G-mail) to publish defamatory material concerning Samarai-Murua MP Isi Henry Leonard.
According to a police statement of facts, he posted several false, defamatory, derogatory statements and false accusations and claims against MP Leonard which appeared in Monday’s Post Courier (May 4) in the “Yu Tok” column, with the headline “Cheque printing machines flown to Port Moresby”.
The allegation stated that Leonard had ordered the machines to be flown over to Port Moresby and that they were used to print cheques at will and that he had engaged consultants from the Implementation and Rural Development Department and paid them to fast track the procurement process.
After that, he was alleged to have been with his cohorts again, posted on Facebook the photographs or snapshots of Samarai-Murua printed cheques which were raised for the administration’s use.
The Facebook post went viral and attracted a lot of comments, which tarnished Leonard’s reputation. The case was adjourned to July 14.