Former Deputy Secretary of Policy in the Office of the Prime Minister, Nemani Mati says that former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had earlier endorsed the withdrawal of the waiver for Health Tender CTN 66/2011, however, it was later changed and approved.
Mati took the stand in the health tender trial of Bainimarama, former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Health Minister Doctor Neil Sharma.
He says that on the 11th of September 2011, the recommendation was endorsed, and he had written to Dr Sharma stating that his proposal seeking a waiver for the tender of rural laboratory equipment was declined.
Mati says he followed the advice of the Fiji Procurement Office closely because he could not argue with the recommendations made by government agencies.
During cross-examination, defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma asked whether Mati had used the Fiji Procurement Office’s recommendation in his memo and submitted it to Bainimarama as advice.
Mati said yes.
Sharma also asked why Mati had added an additional comment stating that Dr Sharma’s request was declined, and whether he had misled Bainimarama with his advice.
Mati initially agreed that he had misled Bainimarama, however, during re-examination, he said that he had not misled him.
The trial will continue on the 11th of May.
Dr Sharma is charged with two counts of abuse of office and two counts of breach of trust by a person employed in the public service.
Bainimarama is charged with one count of abuse of office.
Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office and one count of obstructing the course of justice.
