Tiktoker and Farmer Lui Vuibureta was intoxicated when he went live on social media and made humiliating remarks about the information minister Lynda Tabuya.
He told police that he had been drinking for several hours before posting the video on TikTok and claimed he did not fully realise the extent of what he had done until the following day.
Vuibureta apologised in court for his actions.
In mitigation, his lawyer Eroni Navuda submitted that the accused who has no previous convictions.
Navuda told the court that Vuibureta accepts responsibility, regrets his actions and is willing to apologise to the complainant, including through a traditional apology if permitted.
The defence also noted that the accused has already spent 46 days in custody and submitted that this time served, along with the publicity surrounding the case, has already had a significant impact on him and his family.
The defence submits that a suspended sentence or fine would be appropriate in the circumstances.
Tabuya’s victim Impact statement was read out in court where she states that while the accused has pleaded guilty, the harm caused by his actions has been real and deeply felt by both her and her family.
She hopes that the court’s decision will send a clear message that while freedom of expression is important, no one should use social media as a platform to abuse, degrade or humiliate others.
The prosecution adds that the sentence should reflect the seriousness of the offence and serve as a deterrent to others in the community.
The State submits that Vuibureta’s comments were not ordinary, but were highly offensive and intended to humiliate and degrade Tabuya, causing serious emotional distress.
The State adds it also stressed the importance of promoting responsible behaviour online and encouraging a respectful digital environment.
Vuibureta will know his fate next Tuesday when Justice Gounder delivers his sentence.
The post Vuibureta to be Sentenced Next Tuesday Over Humiliating Remarks About Tabuya on TikTok appeared first on Fiji One News.
