Lynda Tabuya during a parliament session in December 2024. Photo: Facebook / Parliament of the Republic of Fiji
The editor of FijiLeaks is threatening to counter-sue former Cabinet minister Lynda Tabuya, who appeared in a private video dancing naked.
Tabuya claims her phone was stolen and hacked and last week threatened to sue Victor Lal, who lives in London.
The explicit clip went viral, prompting Prime Minister Sitiven Rabuka to dump her from his Cabinet on 26 December.
The veteran journalist told RNZ Pacific that claims he was behind the leak are libellous.
"I never leaked that video, I never put it online and I stand by that," he said.
"I am more than happy for her (Tabuya) to go ahead and sue me, I'll counter-sue, I was just one of many recipients of that video."
Lal said FijiLeaks, a blogsite known for exposing political corruption, was temporarily inactive from 19 to 28 December, while he was overseas.
"An 'anonymous Santa Claus' sent me the video on 23 December and by then it had already gone viral," he said.
Many news websites had already run stories and were confronting Tabuya about the video.
"I didn't run a story, I didn't release the video, I was basically a silent player," he said.
FijiLeaks did, however, run some murky screenshots from the video - including a rear-shot - with comments.
"I opted to send it to the Prime Minister to investigate, as well as other high-ranking members of government," he said.
Lal said he also sent a copy to deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, who co-chaired the coalition's Anti-PornTaskforce with Tabuya.
"Who was the person in the room who filmed the video, with a soccer game blaring in the background?" he said.
He questions whether Tabuya had reported her phone had been stolen before the video went viral.
"The police need to interview her, it's up to them to establish who stole the phone, who hacked it, who took the video, where it was shot and who leaked it."
Tabuya maintains she made the video for her ex-husband Rob Semaan, but allegedly told the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) that they divorced in 2016, so there was no need for her to disclose his wealth in the staturory declaration.
A source close to Semaan said he had "no comment" and did not want to be involved.
"The more they become defensive, the more questions need to be asked." Lal said.
"I find it libellous to accuse me of leaking it, without any evidence at all and the chronology of events will clearly demonstrate that I played no role in the video going viral."
"I felt it was a continuation of her behaviour and denial after the incident in room 233 in Melbourne was revealed, and I had to produce evidence of text messages to prove she was lying," he said.
The People's Alliance Party decided not to expel Tabuya last week, "in the spirit of second chances", partly due to her popularity among young voters.
Tabuya later announced she had begun criminal proceedings against Lal, on the advice of her legal council in the UK.
"Given that online crimes are transnational in nature, as a Fiji citizen, he will be held accountable to the full extent of the law," she said.
"This could include possible extradition to Fiji to face charges here and I will be travelling to the UK to register a complaint as well."
A year ago, FijiLeaks released explosive allegations of Tabuya's extramarital affair with fellow Cabinet minister Aseri Radrodro, who is the Minister of Education.
Screenshots of texts and images allegedly shared betwwen the two MPs were circulated widely on social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
The leaked images show one minister allegedly admitting to "getting drunk and high" on marijuana and sharing lewd images.
Tabuya had declined to comment, saying it was "fake news".
RNZ Pacific contacted the police, the deputy director of prosecution's office (DPP) and the High Court in Suva to verify whether Tabuya has filed any charges against Lal.
The High Court was not aware of any such case and the DPP's media liaison officer said the office was not aware of a private prosecution by Tabuya.
The police cybercrime unit has identified two suspects during its investigations into the leaked private video.
