The defence in the Fiji Times trial in Suva has opened its case after the court ruled it does have a case to answer.
The newspaper, its publisher, two editors and a letter writer are on trial in the High Court over an allegedly seditious letter published in the Times' Nai Lalakai newspaper two years ago.
The lawyers for the five defendants had submitted there was no case to answer and that the evidence put forward by the prosecution was deficient.
But Fiji Village reported High Court Judge Thushara Rajasinghe saying he was satisfied to the contrary.
The news website said the editor-in chief Fred Wesley was the first defence witness.
Mr Wesley earlier pleaded not guilty to aiding and abetting sedition.
The letter in the Fijian language paper allegedly promoted hostility between Muslims and non Muslims.