The defence counsel of former Vice-Chancellor of Fiji National University Dr. Ganesh Chand has told the Suva High Court that he will file a strike out application in the next seven days.
Chand has been charged by FICAC with one count of abuse of office after he allegedly abused his authority by approving the payments for overseas medical treatment for the then Minister of Education and Chairman of the Fiji National University Council, Filipe Bole without the approval of the FNU Council.
Chand’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma had earlier asked FICAC to consider whether the court has powers to hear Chand’s case.
However, Sharma advised the court this morning that his client wants to file an application to strike out the matter.
Sharma says that the directive that was given to Chand to process the payment of medical expenses of the then Education Minister, Filipe Bole came from a letter written by Bole on a ministerial letterhead and signed by him as the Minister of Education and Bole had directed FNU and Chand to take care of his medical cost overseas.
He says that under the 2013 constitution, no directive or decision made by the Minister between 5th December 2006 to 6th October 2014 can be challenged in any court.
