FORUM Solomon Islands International (FSII) has gone abuzz following confirmation the chief executive officer of Solomon Airlines is suing its leaders for defamation.
Captain Ron Sumsum of Vanuatu took the action after recent postings and comments on FSII facebook page about his employment contract and the huge salary he reportedly earns.
The postings claimed Captain Sumsum is the highest paid CEO of any state-owned company in Solomon Islands and that he had influenced the Solomon Airlines board to keep him on the job for three terms now.
Lawyer for captain Sumsum, Lily Ramo, had informed FSII chief executive officer Benjamin Afuga on Monday of the lawsuit.
Ms Ramo also confirmed to the Solomon Star yesterday she had filed the case in the High Court on Monday and that the papers will be served on FSII shortly.
Her confirmation of the legal action had sent FSII facebook members buzzing in their commentaries.
They pledged to unite and fight it out with captain Sumsum in court.
Mr Afuga has also asked members of the forum to contribute financially to enable them prepare their defence.
Captain Sumsum becomes the second person to sue FSII for defamation.
Former prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo filed a lawsuit in 2013 against FSII in 2013 after postings were made of an alleged extra-marital affair. The Solomon Star is a party in that case, which is still before the High Court.
Several lawyers spoken to said this is going to be an interesting case and perhaps the first for the country.
“The interesting part to this case is the use of social media as the medium of the alleged defamation Sumsum is suing for,” one lawyer spoken to said.
“This is going to be a test case for Solomon Islands,” another lawyer said.
It’s understood captain Sumsum’s lawyer Ms Ramo initiated a private criminal defamation in this case under Section 191 of the Penal Code, which is different from the usual civil defamation lawsuits.
A lawyer familiar with court processes explained to the Solomon Star the advantage of private criminal initiatives is it allows cases to proceed faster before the courts.
“Private criminal proceedings are normally heard quickly by the courts compared to civil proceedings, which can take ages before they can be concluded in the courts,” the lawyer said.
“I believe Sumsum and his lawyer wanted their case to be heard quickly by the courts. This is why they initiated this private criminal proceeding.”
However, the lawyer added for someone or a lawyer to initiate a private criminal proceeding, they must first get approval from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
“If Ms Ramo has already filed the case at the High Court, then it means she’s got the approval from the DPP to proceed,” the lawyer said.
The High Court has confirmed Ms Ramo filed the case on Monday.
Ms Ramo said after filing the case on Monday, she had to do some amendments yesterday based on new information she’d just got, before serving the papers on FSII.
FSII’s Mr Afuga said with support of their members, they are prepared to go to court and defend the organisation.
The group last week made a submission to the Prime Minister’s Office, asking the government to investigate the employment contract of captain Sumsum and the huge pay package he’s reportedly earning.
By STEPHEN DI’ISANGO
