Former Prime Minister and SODELPA Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka has been granted bail by Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa after appearing in a packed courtroom in Suva.
Rabuka is charged by FICAC in relation to the declaration of his assets and liabilities as required under the Political Parties Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures Act.
It is alleged that Rabuka made a false declaration of assets and liabilities to the Supervisor of Elections by failing to provide information namely, the tax liability with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service in the amount of $316,956, the investment and interest income with Raghwan Construction Limited in the amount of $200,000 and $16,000 respectively and the liability with Raghwan Construction in the amount of $120,000, contrary to the Political Parties Act.
The plea was not taken.
FICAC will serve the full disclosures next week.
Rabuka has surrendered his passport and the stop departure has been issued.
He has been told to report to the Nabua Police Station every first Saturday of every month.
The bail bond is $300.
The two sureties for Rabuka are his cousin, Masi Lomaloma and Sakiusa Raivoce.
Meanwhile Magistrate Boseiwaqa also told the lawyers in the case that there may be a conflict of interest as his father went to school with Rabuka at QVS in the 1960s.
The prosecution and defence lawyers will make their submissions on this in the next court sitting.
The case has been adjourned to the 6th of next month.
Rabuka is represented by lawyers, Lynda Tabuya and Filimoni Vosarogo.
