A Fijian Member of Parliament, Lynda Tabuya, has been dismissed from her ministerial role after an explicit video of her surfaced online. The video, intended for her husband, was circulated on social media, prompting Ms. Tabuya to condemn the act as a criminal invasion of privacy.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced her dismissal as Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection via Facebook, just two days after local media broke the story.
“I have decided to exercise the power conferred upon me to dismiss her as a Minister, with immediate effect,” he stated, adding that she would remain a Member of Parliament.
Ms. Tabuya defended herself in local media, asserting, “there is nothing scandalous or illegal or immoral about sharing private videos and images between two consenting adults who are in a relationship, in this case me and my husband.”
She criticised those who circulated the footage, calling it an example of online gender-based violence, a recurring issue in Fiji.
The 52-year-old MP said that she was working with authorities to identify the perpetrators. She revealed evidence of one individual sharing the video via email and warned that anyone distributing the footage could face serious legal repercussions.
“I warn anyone who is sharing the video through Messenger or email or any online platform that you are committing a crime and will be held accountable and face serious legal consequences,” she said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Livai Driu confirmed that the Cyber Crime Unit is investigating after Ms. Tabuya filed a complaint in Suva.
However, Prime Minister Rabuka noted that the government itself is not probing how the video was leaked.
“The fact is that this video has been made available. Who by and what for will have to be determined by subsequent questioning on her part and on the part of the law enforcement agencies if she reports the matter to them,” he remarked.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of combating cybercrimes and protecting individuals’ rights to privacy in Fiji.