Corrections Officer tells tribunal he repaired Dr Nakarawa’s wife’s private vehicle twice

The Principal Corrections Officer working at Fiji Corrections Service Garage at Walu Bay has told the Constitutional Offices Commission tribunal looking into allegations of misbehaviour against suspended Commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa that he had worked on Dr Nakarawa's wife's private vehicle twice after it was brought to the garage by Dr Nakarawa's driver.

Esala Ravonokula says he worked on the vehicle for a fixed payment after the Mechanical Garage Policy was created.

He says Dr Nakarawa's driver Daniel Lobendahn had brought the vehicle after he had heard a weird noise in the vehicle.

While responding to questions by Dr Nakarawa's counsel, Simione Valenitabua, Ravonokula also says he took the driver's word that the vehicle belonged to the wife and that he was not instructed by Dr Nakarawa that the driver would be bringing the vehicle.

He says the driver also did not say that he was instructed by Dr Nakarawa.

Ravonokula also agreed with Valenitabua that the policy did not come in for Dr Nakarawa's wife and that it was brought in so that inmates could work on staff vehicles without paying for the service.

The Corrections Officer also agreed that repairing the private vehicle at the roadside with his own tools was a one-off incident.

While responding to a question by counsel assisting the tribunal, Juleen Fatiaki, Ravonokula says he used his own tools as he was not allowed to use FCS tools.

Another mechanic based at the garage, Jitendra Chand told the tribunal that the private vehicle was brought to the garage on two different occasions, once before and once after the policy came in place.

He says money was paid after the policy came in place.

When questioned by Valenitabua, Chand says the main beneficiaries of the policy are the inmates as they can now work on different types of vehicles.

He adds a logbook on the service and payment is kept and agreed that there is no secret.

Chand also says that Ravonokula had worked on Dr Nakarawa's wife's private vehicle after work hours on the roadside with his own tools.

The tribunal hearing continues this afternoon.