Freesoul Real Estate Development Limited who were found guilty of two counts of undertaking unauthorized developments in April last year will be sentenced on 28th April, 2022.
The charges against Freesoul relate to the failure to comply with a Prohibition Notice issued by the Department of Environment in June 2018 and carrying out of resort development activity in Malolo without an approved Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
Prosecution witness in the sentence hearing, Director of Environment Sandeep Singh said Freesoul caused significant damages to the environment where 6,000 to 8,000 trees were removed and the sea grass was extensively damaged.
Singh says they have seen other environmental damage caused because of developments in the country but not at this scale.
Meanwhile Freesoul lawyer David Toganivalu says the company intends to continue the development in Malolo and they will re-apply for the Environmental Impact Assessment once the court processes are complete.
Singh says they will consider the application once all the court orders are complied with.
Both parties have been given time to file their mitigation and written submissions.
The case will be called on 22nd April.
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