Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who is serving a one year prison sentence, has taken the Fijian Government and the Attorney General to court in relation to the alleged short payment of his pension and gratuity by $337,211.
According to the Writ of Summons filed in court by Bainimarama's lawyers, they claim his annual salary was $328,750 and according to the Parliamentary Remunerations Act, his pension and gratuity is supposed to be 75 percent of his annual salary which is $246,562.50.
Bainimarama opted for a gratuity or a lump sum payment.
According to the summons, they claim his pension was reduced to $184,921.87.
The summons state that the Government made a payment of $433,286.75 to Bainimarama, allegedly leaving a shortfall of $337,211.12.
It claims Bainimarama should have received a monthly pension payment of $7,112.12.
In the response filed by the Office of the Attorney General, they deny the amounts provided as Bainimarama was only entitled to 80 percent of the salary provided in the Parliamentary Remunerations Act 2014, that is, $263,000, when he retired as the Prime Minister.
They say that the salaries of the Prime Minister, Ministers and other public officers outlined in the Parliamentary Remunerations Act were reduced by 20 percent on 27 March 2022 as per the Parliament's resolution and according to section 11 of the Act, his reduction would remain in effect until the Parliament made a new determination.
They say there was no new determination before Bainimarama's retirement, so his salary was $263,000 per annum when he retired.
They say Bainimarama and his lawyers have misconstrued the relevant provisions of the Prime Minister's Pension Act and the Parliamentary Remunerations Act.
They seek that this claim be dismissed with an order on the costs.
The matter has been adjourned to the 5th of February next year.
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