High Court trial of Dakuidreketi, Bakani and Vakatale to get underway next month

The High Court trial of former Native Land Trust Board Director Keni Dakuidreketi, former Managing Director Kalivati Bakani and former NLTB employee Alanieta Vakatale will get underway before High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar on the 2nd of next month.

It has been confirmed that all the preliminary matters have been dealt with and the trial is expected to run for three weeks.

According to the FICAC charges, Dakuidreketi, Bakani and Vakatale allegedly conspired together and with others between March 2004 to November 2005 to effect an unlawful purpose namely the defrauding of NLTB of its Trust Funds valued at $3.7 million and a Government Grant valued at $1 million by causing the payments of these funds to support a defunct Information Technology System called MYSAP.

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.

The grant was earmarked by the Government for NLTB’s use through its investment arm, Vanua Development Corporation for the purposes of investment to generate revenue.

It is also alleged that Bakani and Vakatale between March 2004 and April 2005 whilst being employed in the public service, had executed a Business Solution Agreement on behalf of NLTB’s Board of Trustees in contravention of the Native Land Trust Act which are arbitrary acts in abuse of the authority of their respective offices and prejudicial to the rights of NLTB and its beneficiaries.

Another major NLTB trial involving former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Bakani is expected to get underway in March next year.
 


Story by: Vijay Narayan