Bainimarama, Sayed-Khaiyum and Sharma's trial set for three weeks in November

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, former Attorney-General Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum and former Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma's trial date has been fixed for three weeks in November for the health tender case.

The trial will run from November 10th to 14th, 17th to 21st and 24th to 28th.

The defence counsel, Krishneel Chang representing Dr Sharma, informed High Court Judge Justice Usaia Ratuvuli that they are unable to take trial dates in October as the principal lawyer, Wylie Clarke will be out of the country.

Bainimarama, Sayed-Khaiyum and Sharma's not gulity plea from the Magistrates Court has been recorded.

State Counsel, Pooja Mishra informed the court that the prosecution intends to call 13 witnesses.

If the Court finds there is a case to answer, Krishneel Chang will call five witnesses for the defence, while Devanesh Sharma will call four.

It is alleged Bainimarama, who is charged with one count of abuse of office, on 13th September 2011, being the Minister of Finance, recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting a waiver of tender process without lawful justification for a Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office and one count of obstructing the course of justice.

It is alleged that on 20th October 2011, being employed as the Acting Minister of Finance, Sayed-Khaiyum recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting a waiver of the tender process without lawful justification for a Ministry of Health Tender CTN 153/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation.

It is also alleged that on 29th June 2012, being employed in the public service as the Attorney General, Sayed-Khaiyum intentionally obstructed the FICAC investigation against Dr. Neil Sharma relating to a Health Tender CTN 66/2011 by directing all investigations to be shelved until further notice, which resulted in the cessation of the FICAC investigation and no criminal charges being filed against Dr Neil Sharma for the past 10 years.

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.

It is alleged that between 3rd August 2011 to 13th September 2011, Sharma abused his position as the Minister of Health by intentionally failing to comply with statutory requirements for tenders stipulated under the Procurement Regulation for the Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 and actively engaged in acts to undermine CTN 66/2011 in favour of the bidder, Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd, also known as Hospineer.