Qarase questioned on why he delayed court proceedings

The lawyer for Commodore Bainimarama and others in the December 2006 High Court case, Gerard McCoy has questioned Ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase why he did not commence court proceedings straight after the events of December 5th.

McCoy said in court while cross-examining Qarase that he started court proceedings two months after the events of December 2006 and in between also applied for pension as a Former Prime Minister.

Qarase replied and I quote "You would understand my situation at the time. I was in the village and only had access to the telephone and fax machine. I also could not go ahead with the proceedings soon after the events as a number of delegations were visiting me in Vanuabalavu everyday and according to Fijian tradition I had to receive them. I did not have time" end of quote.

McCoy then questioned Qarase whether he was acknowledging that there was no importance to his case, and him receiving delegations at his home took precedence over the case proceedings. He also questioned Qarase how can he say that he had no time to initiate court proceedings, when he was giving media interviews all the time.

Qarase replied that those interviews only took a few minutes.

McCoy then said that Qarase did nothing to protect his position for two months. Qarase's lawyer Nye Perram then asked his client to explain what happened when he reached his village home.

Qarase explained to the court that he arrived at his Vanuabalavu home on 6th December, 2006 and could not do much to initiate court proceedings as they were approaching the festive season and he knew that most of the lawyers would be going out of their office due to the approaching Christmas break.