Man charged with libel

A MAN charged with publishing defamatory posts on a social media platform denied the offence in court after a Waigani committal court Magistrate Billy Pidu arraigned him last week.
Michael Boki, 43, from Stigmil village in Minj, Jiwaka, when asked by Magistrate Pidu whether he understood the charge, said: “This WhatsApp post is not mine.”
He added that he would bring a lawyer.
Magistrate Pidu said police alleged that on May 8, Boki posted an article in the NCD Residents WhatsApp Group saying: “Bala Kitipa should be removed immediately from the NCDC security manager’s post.
“Why keeping corrupt officers at a public office. Over to the top management now.”
The complainant (Kitipa) read the post and felt aggrieved as the matter was so defamatory and degrading he made a complaint to the Gordon Police Station.
A search was done to locate the author of the post and Boki was identified.
He was called through his cell phone number (79776603) and he responded.
It matched the number bearing the WhatsApp posts and Boki was directed to go for an interview.
Boki admitted having posted the article stating that he had an ongoing issue with Kitipa.
He was arrested and charged with one count of publishing defamatory and deregulatory posts with intent to cause unnecessary stress and anxiety to Kitipa and further ridicule his employment as security manager of NCDC.
He was detained at the Boroko Police Station cell and later released on bail.