DPP/FICAC Given Month To Discuss Corruption Charges

The Suva Magistrates Court has given the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and FICAC a month to discuss the corruption related charges earlier laid by FICAC against ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

Deputy DPP Anthony Elliot today asked the court for more time to discuss the form of charges that are laid against Qarase.

Qarase's lawyer Peniana Salele said charges laid against Qarase need to be discharged as they are not sanctioned by the DPP.

Salele wants all four counts to be discharged but Magistrate Amani Rokotinaviti had given time to DPP lawyer for the charges to be discussed with FICAC lawyers and come back to the court on the 27th of October.

FICAC had earlier charged Qarase with four counts of abuse of office in relation to certain deals at the Fijian Holdings and extinct mataqali funds with the NLTB.