RABUKA DENIES FIJI TIMES JOURNALIST'S PATERNITY CLAIMS

SUVA (Pacific Media Watch): Former Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka denies that he fathered a controversial Fiji Times journalist's child in spite of a paternity test presented as evidence, local newspapers report.

While both the Fiji Times and The Sun reported on 12 February 2002 that Rabuka was called before Chief Magistrate Salesi Temo in his chambers in "an unusual move", the Daily Post reported in a front-page story the hearing was in the Domestic Court.

The Post also published a front page picture of Rabuka with the caption: "Who me? Couldn't be ... Rabuka denies assertion."

The Fiji Times did not identify reporter Margaret Wise as a member of the newspaper's staff, but both the other dailies described her as a senior journalist on the paper with the Sun labelling her as "chief-of-staff".

According to the Fiji Times, Rabuka had denied fathering a boy born to Ms Wise.

"A DNA test revealed Mr Rabuka was 99.999 percent [certain] to be the likely father of the 18-month-old boy," the paper said.

"The matter will now go into hearing. Ms Wise has been ordered to file affidavits in two weeks after which Mr Rabuka's lawyers will reply."

The paper said a complaint had been lodged after Rabuka had "failed to honour an out-of-court settlement" drafted in April last year.

Ms Wise is reportedly claiming $350 a month in maintenance from Rabuka.

The Daily Post said the pair were alleged to have had an affair while Rabuka, the 1987 military coup leader, was chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs.

The Fiji Times reported Chief Magistrate Temo had referred the case to the Domestic Court, "saying he could not hear the case because he was related to Rabuka's wife [Suluweti]".

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