The Suva Magistrates Court has denied the no case to answer application by Fiji Corrections Commissioner former Acting Commissioner Salote Panapasa in her FICAC trial.
Magistrate Charles Ratakele, in his ruling today after hearing submissions from both parties yesterday, says FICAC has established that there is a case to answer.
Magistrate Ratakele told Panapasa that now that the prosecution has closed its case, the court wants to hear her side of the story.
Panapasa's counsel, Kevin Skiba, told the court that the defence will call two witnesses, including Panapasa.
She is charged with two counts of abuse of office and an alternative count of general dishonesty – causing a loss.
It is alleged that between 1st August 2023 and 30th September, Salote Panapasa instructed officers of the Fiji Corrections Service to facilitate the use of building materials that were purchased for FCS for her private residence.
Its is also alleged between 1st August 2023 and 31st October 2023; Panapasa instructed the officers of Fiji Corrections Service to alter the weekly report for the period of August 2023 to include paragraphs justifying the use of the FCS building materials at her private residence.
The trial will continue next Thursday.
