Decision came from USP Council that they would engage BDO and FICAC would cease investigation – FICAC investigator

The FICAC investigator who was in charge of investigations into University of the South Pacific has revealed in the Voreqe Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho trial that they were told by the FICAC Commissioner that the decision came from USP Council that they would engage BDO, and FICAC would cease investigations.

FICAC Manager Investigations for the Central Division, Kuliniasi Saumi who is the second State witness has also revealed during the cross examination that they received a request from USP’s Director of Assurance and Compliance, Dulari Traill that all documents seized to be returned to USP.

While answering questions during his examination in chief by Acting DPP, Ratu David Toganivalu, Saumi says they had received a complaint from Traill who had requested to stay anonymous.

He say after getting the mandate from the then Acting Commissioner of FICAC, Rashmi Aslam, they began their investigations.

Saumi says after going through the seized documents, they noted a number of issues and allegations.

He says he remembers one issue they focused on was abuse and mismanagement of allowances paid to the staff of the University.

The investigator says the process and the authority for payment was not there and they focused on that.

Saumi adds people at higher authority were implicated and their conduct was questionable.

He says they presented their case to the Commissioner and made recommendations for the need to proceed to the caution interview phase.

Saumi says a few days later, when they were still finalising and getting appointments for caution interviews, he was advised by his Manager that there has been a new development at USP and a decision has been made that they will have to cease the investigation.

Bainimarama is charged with a count of attempt to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho is charged with a count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Bainimarama sometime in July 2020 as the Prime Minister directed the Police Commissioner to stop the investigation into a police complaint, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the University of the South Pacific which is the complainant.

It is alleged that Qiliho on the 15th of July, 2020 as the Police Commissioner directed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass to stop investigations into the police complaint by the USP, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was arbitrary act of prejudicial to the rights to USP.

Bainimarama and Qiliho are represented by R Patel Lawyers Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima while Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Ratu David Toganivalu is representing the State.

The trial continues today.