Two Central Otago men will appear in the Alexandra District Court next week as a result of an alleged assault prompted by a Facebook post.
Police warned this week social media users should not take matters into their own hands. Detective Sergeant Brian Cameron said a 20-year-old and a 49-year-old would appear in court on Tuesday, each facing an assault charge.
The men would also face another charge in relation to the incident, which happened at a Central Otago house over the weekend.
To protect the alleged victim, Det Sgt Cameron declined to say where the incident took place.
The victim was a Central Otago man who did not require hospital treatment as a result of the incident.
The matter appeared to have been prompted by a Facebook post, he said.
''People need to be accountable for all their words and actions, regardless of where they take place, even if they're on social media.''
Inciting, threatening or committing offences online was viewed seriously by the police, Det Sgt Cameron said.
A Southern police district staff member provided the incorrect information to the Otago Daily Times on Wednesday relating to Facebook posts in connection with an assault.
Police yesterday contacted the newspaper to say the warning about the use of Facebook was not in relation to an assault in Wanaka on Saturday, but to the Central Otago incident reported above.
He said police would pass on their apologies for the mistake to the family of the Wanaka assault victim.
