Amalgamated Telecom Holdings CEO, Ivan Fong confirmed in the High Court today that former Director of Telecom Fiji Limited, Sanjay Kaba’s appointment was approved by board members in 2017, and he says all directors are required to declare conflicts of interest.Fong took the stand as a State witness in Kaba’s trial, where he is charged with one count of obtaining a financial advantage.
When questioned by FICAC lawyer, Nimisha Shankar, Fong confirmed says that once a conflict of interest is declared, the Board is informed and the member is asked to step out of the meeting.
When Shankar asked if he remembered any conflict of interest declarations being signed, Fong responded that he could not recall any.
He says the China Telecom Limited in 2018 was given given time to complete field reports for Fintel, Telecom and Vodafone.
Fong says the company had to give recommendations to improved data network security.
The CEO also confirms that Kaba was in some of the meetings.
The cross examination for Fong will begin at 2.30pm today.
It is alleged that Kaba between the 27th of January 2017 and the 20th of January 2019 whilst being a board member of Telecom Fiji Limited and Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited, engaged in conduct namely using information and influence obtained by virtue of his position to procure a submission of tender through the company Houng Lee Kaba Jacob Limited a company in which he was a director and shareholder, for Project Management Service in relation to TFL for TFL's new office and data centre project, and as a result obtained a financial advantage amounting to $766,327.22 between June 2022 and July 2023, knowing that HLK Jacob was not eligible to receive the financial advantage.
