Qarase case set for trial

Almost two years since charges were laid against him, the abuse of office case against former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is set for trial in the Suva High Court next Tuesday.

Qarase pleaded not guilty to five counts of abuse of office brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption in February 2008.

It is alleged that in May 2004 Qarase, while being Prime Minister, Minister for Fijian Affairs and Chairman of the Native Lands Trust Board did an arbitrary act by gazetting regulations which gave the NLTB the powers to invest any trust funds held in trust, thereby causing prejudice to the rights of the Fijian Affairs Board.

It is also alleged that Qarase, while being director of the Fiji Development Bank in 1992, allocated shares to companies owned by his family members without declaring his interest and relationship with the companies.

In July last year, during pre-trial stages of the case, Qarase's application for bail variation to travel to Australia to collect money for his defence in the case, was refused by High Court Judge Justice Daniel Gounder who stated in his ruling that Qarase had not shown that he had no other means to raise the funds for his case.

Part of Qarase's bail condition also requires him to inform FICAC when he travels to his village in Vanuabalavu.

Meanwhile, a new Prosecutor from FICAC is expected to take over the case during the trial after former FICAC Lawyer Aca Rayawa was appointed Acting DPP. Qarase is represented by Qoriniasi Bale.