The trial for former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica will begin properly tomorrow after Suva Magistrate Charles Ratakele allowed FICAC to file amended charges today.
Magistrate Ratakele had earlier adjourned for 45 minutes while he made his decision regarding the amended charges.
FICAC counsel Josann Pene had asked for 14 days to serve the defence with the amended charges but defence counsel Wylie Clarke said they are still ready to go to trial.
Clarke says the sooner this is done the better, while all the information is still fresh.
Earlier, Pene had asked if they can amend the charges due to new information that they have just received this morning.
Clarke objected to this saying that they have spent their time and the whole weekend preparing for this trial on the agreed documents agreed to from last week.
Kamikamica is charged with perjury - Contrary to section 176(1) of the Crimes Act no. 44 of 2009.
According to the amended charge, Kamikamica between 1st December 2024 to 31st March 2025 at Suva in the Central Division, being lawfully sworn as a witness in a judicial proceeding namely a Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner, wilfully made a material statement on oath, namely, that he had no knowledge of the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner prior to her appointment dated 5th September 2024.
He is also charged with giving false information to a public servant where it is alleged that Kamikamica between 1st December 2024 to 31st March 2025, being lawfully a sworn as a witness in a judicial proceeding namely Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner, gave to the Commissioner of Inquiry (being a person employed in the civil service) information he knew or believed to be false, namely that he had no knowledge of the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner prior to her appointment dated 5th September 2024.
