The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) has come under criticism after questioning investigative journalist Gina Maka’a and searching her office in Honiara.
Maka’a, a reporter with In-depth Solomons, was questioned about a confidential document used in an investigation into a reported $10 billion tax discrepancy involving the Solomon Islands Tobacco Company.
She was asked to identify the person who gave her the document but refused to reveal the source.
Maka’a said she had promised to protect the source’s identity.
“I made a promise to the source that I will never reveal their identity.”
In-depth Solomons is a Honiara-based online news portal, dedicated to investigative journalism and in-depth reporting
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) strongly condemned the police action, saying questioning a journalist about her source and attempting to obtain documents and electronic devices was an attack on press freedom.
In-depth Solomons editor Ofani Eremae said journalists must be able to carry out investigations without intimidation.
Solomon Islands Women in News Media (SIWINM) also condemned what it described as targeted intimidation of Maka’a, who is the organisation’s Vice President.
SIWINM President Dorothy Wickham said a free media is important for democracy.
“Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our democracy,” Wickham said.
Police spokesman Desmond Rave said the search was part of an ongoing investigation and the case file is now with the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The RSIPF later clarified that the warrant was intended to obtain information for the investigation, not to force Maka’a to reveal her source.
Police acknowledged that the warrant contained an administrative error in the name and said measures would be taken to prevent a similar mistake.
The RSIPF said it respects the work of journalists but also has legal powers, including search warrants, to obtain information needed for investigations and prosecutions.
The incident has renewed debate over the balance between police investigations and the protection of journalists and their sources.
