Former Fijian Ambassador to the US and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Solo Mara pleaded not guilty to one count of Disobedience of Lawful Order and one count of Giving False Information in the Suva Magistrates Court today.
According to the charges by FICAC which was read in court, Mara disobeyed a search warrant on 24th January 2020.
FICAC also accuses Mara of allegedly giving false information to a FICAC officer between the 22nd and 23rd of January, 2020.
The plea has been deferred in the second case where Mara is charged by FICAC with one count of Obtaining a Financial Advantage and one count of Causing a Loss.
In this second case, FICAC says Mara allegedly caused payments to be made to himself from the Washington Embassy funds amounting to FJD$38,481.17 between September 2016 and October 2017 while serving as the Fijian Ambassador to the United States of America.
According to FICAC, these amounts were allegedly paid through 15 payment vouchers between 1st September 2016 and 31st October 2017. FICAC says Mara allegedly used various official engagements and opportunities to obtain these financial advantages from the Embassy funds.
These included fully sponsored events by hosting agencies.
FICAC further says despite these sponsorships, Mara allegedly re-claimed the amounts for his air tickets and per diems in breach of the Finance Manual of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Public Service (Diplomatic and Consular Services) Regulation, Finance Instructions 2010 and other related circulars issued by the Ministry.
Both cases will be called again on 30th June 2020.
Mara's bail has been extended.
