11:59 AM |
MEDIA RESTRICTED FROM DALGETY TRIAL
www.pacmediawatch.aut.ac.nz
By Josephine Latu, of Pacific Media Watch
AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Centre/Pacific Media Watch): The Tongan news media has been banned from reporting details about court proceedings against shipping company secretary Ramsay R. Dalgety, who has been charged with lying under oath in relation to the ongoing inquiry into the Princess Ashika ferry tragedy.
Magistrate Sione 'Etika issued a court order yesterday, saying the media could only report strictly on information that appeared on court papers, or face contempt charges.
According to local news website Matangi Tonga, the court case was brought by the Tongan police against the defendant, secretary Dalgety of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia (SCP).
The SCP is the government-owned public enterprise company responsible for purchasing the Princess Ashika ferry, which sank on August 6, taking the lives of at least 72 people.
Dalgety was arrested last Friday and held in custody for 24 hours before being released until a bail hearing held yesterday, March 3.
While Deputy Police Commander Taniela Faletau confirmed the charge of perjury to Matangi Tonga, he refused to comment on any further details.
At the hearing, Magistrate 'Etika issued a court order stating: "There shall be no media publication of the proceedings of today and onwards relating to the defendant except of what appears on the orders of the court available from the court registry on requests or from counsel."
Risk of contempt
The magistrate also ordered: "Any publication from these orders shall be exact and strictly limited to what appears on such orders, any representations falling short or beyond that pertaining to mislead the audience and the public shall be deemed contempt of court."
Dalgety was released on $2600 bail, and the case adjourned until March 22 for committal proceedings. He was ordered to surrender his passport and all travel documents.
Besides his position as secretary of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, Dalgety is also chairman of Tonga's Electricity Commission, another public enterprise that administers Tonga's electricity supply.
He is also an appointed "law lord" in Tonga - one of four legal councillors chosen by the king to advise him on the exercise of his judicial powers, including those relating to appointments, clemency, royal commissions and terms and conditions of the judiciary.
Dalgety was previously a Scottish Queen's Counsel.
During the inquiry hearings earlier in the week, it was revealed that under his chairmanship, the publicly funded Electricity Commission, which includes two other commissioners - Tapu Panuve and Kahungunu Afeaki - spent a total of more than TOP$1.2 million (approx. NZD$ 911,000) from January 2009 to January 2010.
This included money spent on several first class flights and accommodation for Dalgety throughout the year.
* Comment on this item www.pacific.scoop.co.nz
www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=52247
NUKU'ALOFA (Radio NZ International/Pacific Media Watch): Tonga's Talaki and Taimi O Tonga newspapers have been warned by the Attorney-General over coverage of allegations that the Chief Justice had either put pressure on someone to sign his contract or that he and the former Justice Minister had colluded to subvert the constitution.
The newspapers had been referring to letters sent and received by the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, which had been presented at the Royal Commission into the sinking of the Princess Ashika.
Attorney-General John Cauchi says he has had access to all of the relevant details and says the allegations are incorrect and without foundation.
He says the publication may have the effect of diminishing the integrity of the judiciary in Tonga and he has warned the two papers.
www.matangitonga.to/article/20100303_tonga_judiciary.shtml
* See items 6686 and 6687. Statement from Office of the Attorney-General
NUKU'ALOFA (Radio NZ International/Pacific Media Watch): In recent weeks some correspondence passing between the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister has been published in the media here in Tonga.
The letters, sent and received by the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, were published as part of the reporting of evidence in the Royal Commission into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika.
The Prime Minister then gave a television interview and released press statements on the subject of the disclosed letters.
The Ministry of Information and Communication in a paid placement, published an article and further correspondence and internal government documents in both the Talaki and Taimi 'o Tonga newspapers of 10 February 2010.
I only wish to mention an aspect of the material published pertaining to the judiciary.
Some of the material published alleges that the Chief Justice either put "pressure" on someone to sign his contract or that he and the former minister "colluded" to subvert the constitution. These are serious allegations leveled at the judiciary.
I have had access to all of the relevant details and I can say any such allegation is incorrect and without foundation. The publication may have the effect of diminishing the integrity of the judiciary in Tonga.
The two papers I have mentioned have been sent warning letters.
I have given advice consistent with what I have said in this release and as the present Attorney General it is my duty to correct statements or actions which may harm the integrity of the Judiciary.
- Attorney General Office, 03/03/10.
* Comment on this item www.pacific.scoop.co.nz
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