Health tender case: Charges amended, Judge warns ODPP senior counsel to stop posting on social media

The Suva High Court has approved amendments to the charges by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions against former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and former Health Minister Doctor Neil Sharma in the health tender case.

The hearing on the amended charges was held before Justice Usaia Ratuvili.

Defence counsel for Dr Sharma, Wylie Clarke told the court that they will be challenging some of the evidence relied on by the prosecution. 

Counsel for Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum, Devanesh Sharma, after reviewing the list of witnesses, says that only 10 of them are relevant and that calling just the key witnesses would shorten the trial.

Sharma also says there seems to be a tendency in the Office of the DPP that when matters are before the court and cannot be discussed outside the court, ODPP senior counsel like Deputy DPP John Rabuku and Assistant DPP Laisani Tabuakuro are posting online on the pros and cons of the application for amendments.

Justice Ratuvili then advised ODPP counsel Pooja Mishra to pass on the message to her senior counsels on posting on social media.

The trial begins next Monday.