From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

Charges of contempt of court against OBN television presenter Sangster Saulala and others, brought by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Tevita Tupou, were dismissed by Chief Justice Ward in the Nuku‘alofa Supreme Court in June.

The Attorney General had charged seven defendants alleging that they had discussed facts and issues in two televison programmes aired by the Oceania Broadcasting Network in November and December last year. Sangster Saulala hosted the programmes. The other defendants were Moleni Taufa, Talanoa Fungalei,  Sione Talanoa, Sefita Tonga and Vikita Finau.

It was alleged that the programmes were likely to interfere with the administration of justice, and to prejudice the defendant’s case in civil proceedings Edwards v. Moala and Tapueluelu, a defamation case brought by  the Minister of Police against Taimi ‘o Tonga publisher Kalafi Moala and his assistant Mateni Tapueluelu. It was alleged that by directly discussing facts and issues of the Minister of Police’s defamation action against Moala and Tapueleuelu that it may affect potential witnesses and jurors.

Saulala and the other defendants denied this and denied committing a contempt.

The court found that the Crown had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its case and that a contempt of court had been committed.  A submission of ‘no case to answer’ was made. Chief Justice Ward dismissed charges against the defendants.