Judgement date set for Nawaikula

The judgement of SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula is set to be delivered on the 29th of April.

High Court Judge Justice Dr Thushara Kumarage says in the worst case scenario, it can be shifted to the following Monday which is the 2nd of May.

Both counsels in the case have presented their closing submissions.

FICAC Deputy Commissioner, Rashmi Aslam has told the court that the evidence shows that Nawaikula does not live in Buca Village and wherever he went, he would return home to Koronivia.

Aslam says their chart and call records show that 18 percent of the times, Nawaikula lived in Buca Village and 82 percent in Koronivia. Aslam says never once did Nawaikula change his residential address to Buca even when he was renewing his driver's license and changed his voter card. He says there were many errors, false information and lies cited which Nawaikula called mistakes.

Aslam says Nawaikula is not a layman but a shadow Attorney General with 34 years in the law profession and should know the importance of declarations.

Nawaikula allegedly falsely stated that his permanent place of residence was in Buca village, Buca Bay and allegedly obtained $20,201.35 in parliamentary allowances between August 2019 and April 2020.

He is charged with one count of Giving False Information to a Public Servant and one count of Obtaining Financial Advantage.

Meanwhile, FICAC has also charged SODELPA MPs Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Salote Radrodro, Simione Rasova, Peceli Vosanibola and Adi Litia Qionibaravi and former FijiFirst MP Vijendra Prakash with a count of Giving False Information to a Public Servant and one count each of Obtaining Financial Advantage.