State witness alleges in court that former Chair of USP Council was approving payouts outside USP policies

The first State witness has alleged in the trial of former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho that former Chair of the USP Council, Winston Thompson was approving bonus payouts, and remuneration packages with some outside the policies of the University.

USP's Director Assurance and Compliance, Dulari Traill, who is currently giving evidence, says most of the approvals were regarding money allegedly given to people who were not entitled to receive it.

She further says these included members of the University of the South Pacific senior management team at the time.

She alleges in court that these included USP Chair Winston Thompson, the former Interim Director Human Resources, the former Executive Director, the former Payroll Manager and other former executives.

The State witness says their internal investigation was getting to the point where they were contemplating on contacting law enforcement regarding these allegations.

The trial continues this hour.

Bainimarama is charged with a count of attempt to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho is charged with a count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Bainimarama sometime in July 2020 as the Prime Minister directed the Police Commissioner to stop the investigation into a police complaint, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the University of the South Pacific which is the complainant.

It is alleged that Qiliho on the 15th of July, 2020 as the Police Commissioner directed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass to stop investigations into the police complaint by the USP, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was arbitrary act of prejudicial to the rights to USP.

Bainimarama and Qiliho are represented by R Patel Lawyers Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima while Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Ratu David Toganivalu is representing the State.

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