Bainimarama pension: Defence ordered to pay Bainimarama $2,000 for failure to file documents on time

The Government through the Attorney General’s Office has been ordered by the court to pay $2,000 to former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama for failure to adhere to the court’s directions to file documents on time.

The court further ordered that the defendants are to file their affidavit verifying list of documents by 28th February 2025.

Failure to file on time will result in further costs in the sum of $4,000 being ordered against the State.

After receipt of the State’s documents, the plaintiff is ordered to then convene a pre-trial conference and file the minutes by 14th March 2025 and order 34 summons and bundle of documents by 25th March 2025.

Should the parties fail to comply with these orders, their pleadings will be struck off with costs.

This matter will now be mentioned on 8th April 2025 to check on the compliance of orders of the court.

Tevita Cagilaba who appeared on behalf of the defendants, the Government of Fiji, and the Attorney-General’s Office submitted that the State had not filed its affidavit verifying list of documents and sought 7 further days to do so.

It was heard that there were various documents that were required from different Ministries and this had delayed their filing of the documents.

The lawyers of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama appeared before the Acting Master of the High Court this morning with his Writ of Summons seeking payment of the balance of their gratuity funds, pension funds and statutory entitlements payable.

When asked whether the Attorney-General’s Office had notified Bainimarama’s lawyers that they will require further time, Cagilaba said that they had not done so but required further time to file their documents as they wanted to ensure that this matter is dealt with in a diligent manner with all relevant documents being placed before the court regarding the former Prime Minister’s entitlements.

Bainimarama’s counsel submitted to the court that this matter was last called 106 days ago, on 5th November 2024, and on that date the court had made orders for filing of affidavit verifying list of documents by the parties.

They say as part of the orders, it was stated that if either party failed to file their documents within the time specified, their pleadings would be struck out subject to a cost of $2,000.