The case filed by sacked FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali against the President, Prime Minister, and Attorney General over her dismissal has been stood down to 2.15pm today.
Deputy Solicitor General, Eliesa Tuiloma had submitted an adjournment application this morning on behalf of the State.
Defence counsel, Tanya Waqanika informed the court that they are opposing the adjournment, arguing that the State should have been prepared for the hearing.
Waqanika says that the government has vast resources and should have ensured its readiness.
Suva High Court Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere says that he had specifically made time for this hearing and treated it as a priority.
Justice Tuiqereqere expressed his disappointment with the State’s application for an adjournment this morning and made it clear to both parties that the hearing will proceed today as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Malimali’s application is dealing with the judicial review of the powers of the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu in terminating her employment based on the advice of Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.
Prime Minister Rabuka had first announced Malimali’s suspension and then announced that the President had dismissed her after his advice.
These developments took place after the assessment of the Commission of Inquiry report into Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner.
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