Manager to stand trial over social media publication

By GEORGINA KOREI
A FINANCE manager from Enga’s Kompiam-Ambum is facing trial in the National Court on two counts of defamatory publication.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii said there was sufficient evidence to commit Nathan Lapakio to trial.
Lapakio, 50, from Laiagam village in Kompiam-Ambum, is alleged to have published a defamatory post on Facebook, accusing then Finance and Treasury Minister Sir John Pundari of trying to bribe the Electoral Commissioner with K4 million.
The post was published on March 20 at 11.59pm on the Kompiam-Ambum district political forum.
According to police, Lapakio admitted that he had shared the WhatsApp link on March 18, but denied any knowledge about the Facebook post.
The case is listed for Oct 31 in the National Court.
Nii told Lapakio that his decision under Section 95 of the District Court Act to commit him to trial was final and intact.