(PINA/IFEX) – Papua New Guinea journalists were escorted into a guarded courtroom to report on a hearing in the case of a woman allegedly videotaped having sex with a prominent government politician. The “Papua New Guinea Post-Courier” reported on 24 August 1998 that reporters were told to make their way to the courthouse in the […]
(PINA/IFEX) – Papua New Guinea journalists were escorted into a guarded
courtroom to report on a hearing in the case of a woman allegedly videotaped
having sex with a prominent government politician. The “Papua New Guinea
Post-Courier” reported on 24 August 1998 that reporters were told to make
their way to the courthouse in the capital, Port Moresby, and wait with
magistrates and court staff. This was because a huge crowd
was gathering and the security guards had to lock the court gates. The
public was not allowed to sit in on the hearing.
** Updates IFEX alert dated 20 August 1998**
The use of armed police on 19 August 1998 to keep the public and journalists
from attending the court case led to protests from the news media. The chief
magistrate and district police commander both ordered inquiries to be made
as to why journalists were not allowed in, and said it would not happen
again. The woman faces a charge of production of objectionable publication
under the Classification of Publication Censorship Act
