The trial for Former National Fire Authority of Fiji Board Chair John O’Connor and Carpenters Fiji Managing Director Daniel Whippy has been scheduled from 3rd November to 20th November 2026.
O’Connor is charged with one count of abuse of office, while Whippy faces one count of counselling the omission of an offence.
The two appeared before Magistrate Sufia Hamza this morning.
FICAC says they will call 38 witnesses as well as present CCTV footage as part of their case.
O'Connor's defence says they will call three witnesses, including the accused.
Whippy's counsel says they will call no more than three witnesses.
Meanwhile, the case has been stood down to this afternoon to address bail variation for Whippy who is wanting to travel overseas for medical treatment.
It is alleged that between 1 January 2018 and 28 September 2018, while serving as NFA Board Chair, O’Connor abused his authority by arbitrarily directing NFA officers to amend the findings of their 30 April 2018 fire investigation report into the 8 April 2018 fire at the MH Warehouse in Walu Bay.
