FICAC given till next Friday to file an affidavit

The Suva High Court this morning has given FICAC till next Friday to file an affidavit, as they intend to consolidate the charges laid against former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and two former executives of Native Land Trust Board.

The case was called before Judge Justice Priyantha Fernando where former NLTB Director Keni Dakuidreketi’s lawyer, Willie Clarke disagreed with this application as this will make the trial more complex.

Qarase’s lawyer, Qoroniasi Bale also said the case should be heard separately.

Qarase and Bakani were alleged to have conspired to transfer ownership and control of the Extinct Mataqali Funds in 2002 without proper approvals of the NLTB and the Fijian Affairs Board.

Qarase was the Minister for Fijian Affairs and NLTB Board Chairman while Bakani was the General Manager at the time the alleged offence was committed.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that Dakuidreketi and Bakani had fraudulently converted the $1 million government grant into operational costs on the 10th of November 2005 for the implementation and maintenance of the MYSAP system.


Story by: Filipe Naikaso and Ronal Deo