FICAC says Qarase is a national security risk

FICAC has strongly objected an application from Former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase seeking permission to travel overseas saying it could be a threat to national security.

Qarase has requested variations to his bail conditions as he intends to travel abroad and his lawyer Qoriniasi Bale while making the application in court this morning said his client intends to collect money in Australia for his court case.

However, FICAC lawyer Aca Rayawa while opposing the application stated that every time Qarase travels abroad, he speaks to the international media and his statements can be a threat to national security.

Rayawa said the welfare of the nation should be paramount and not the political aspirators.

Bale then played a news segment from ABC news on Qarase's previous visit to Australia. Bale stressed that Qarase was invited to a function while in Australia and he was not there to collect money as earlier claimed by the State.

Following that Qarase then took the stand. He told Judge Justice Daniel Gounder that on his previous 18 day visit, he spent 17 days with his family.

Judge Gounder will make a ruling on the matter on July 22nd.

Qarase had pleaded not guilty to five counts of abuse of office brought against him by FICAC.

It is alleged that in May 2004 Qarase, while being Prime Minister, Minister for Fijian Affairs and Chairman of the NLTB did an arbitrary act by gazetting regulations which gave the NLTB the powers to invest any trust funds held in trust thereby causing prejudice to the rights of the Fijian Affairs Board.

It is also alleged that Qarase, while being director of the Fiji Development Bank in 1992 alloted shares to companies owned by his family members without declaring his interest and relationship with the companies.