A candidate contesting the NCD Governors seat in the 2017 National General Elections has expressed frustrations over a front page story article published today by a daily newspaper stating him of allegedly being directly involved in an election bribery case.
The article by The National on the sentencing of former NCD Elections Manager Terence Hetinu to seven years in jail by the National Court stated Michael Kandiu corruptly giving Mr Hetinu K184, 300 to secure his election.
The matter went through a lengthy court process before the sentencing last Friday.
Mr Kandiu said in the court judgement copy, there was not a mention of Hetinu receiving the money from him nor him giving the money to Hetinu.
“I was not arrested or charged with any offense and I was a State witness in the very case,” Mr Kandiu said.
“What the judgement indicated was that the Election Manager received money to secure my elections.”
He said he had sought legal advice from his lawyers and will sue The National for tarnishing his reputation on the eve of a National General Election period.
He, however said he had written to newspaper’s editorial to run an apology article tomorrow on the alleged misinterpretation of the story and for the damages this has caused on his reputation.