Politician fired after explicit video meant for her husband circulates

A Fijian MP has sensationally been fired after an explicit video of her circulated online.

MP Lynda Tabuya said the private video was meant for her husband, and called its circulation on social media a criminal invasion of privacy.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced his decision to sack Ms. Tabuya as minister for women, children and social protection on Facebook, two days after local Fijian media first reported on the video.

“I have decided to exercise the power conferred upon me. to dismiss her as a Minister, with immediate effect,” he said.

“She will remain as a Member of Parliament.”

Ms. Tabuya meanwhile told local media earlier this week “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.”

The 52-year-old also said the people sharing the video had subjected her to online gender-based violence, a prevalent issue in Fiji involving the release of private images and videos without a person’s consent.

Ms. Tabuya said she was working with authorities to find who distributed the video, that she had evidence of one person sharing it on email and that she would file a police complaint.

“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.

Mr. Rabuka said the government was not investigating how the video entered the public domain.

“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 said.

Fiji Assistant Commissioner of Police Livai Driu told Fiji Television that the Cyber Crime Unit was investigating after Ms. Tabuya lodged a complaint in the capital city, Suva.