More people are expected to be charged by FICAC in relation to the case involving Suva businessman Ben Padarath who has been charged with providing false information to a public servant.
As Padarath appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court this morning, FICAC Prosecutor Livai Sovau made an application for more time preferably a month as FICAC is currently in the process of charging more people.
He said when the charges are filed against the others, the cases would be consolidated.
Padarath is alleged to have given information which he knew to be false to the Immigration Director Major Nemani Vuniwaqa via text messages, intending to cause Vuniwaqa to include the name of one Paul Freeman in the Immigration Watch List.
Meanwhile Padarath’s lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry said in court today that sighting the amendments of the FICAC Promulgation, he still does not see anywhere in the promulgation that gives FICAC’s Commissioner the power to appoint public prosecutors.
Sovau highlighted certain sections on the appointment of FICAC officers.
Magistrate Thushara Rajasinghe asked both counsels to make submissions based on whether FICAC has the powers to stand as prosecutors in court.
The case will be recalled on June 9th.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Feature
More people to be charged in relation to Padarath case
