State to call 25 witnesses, Bainimarama, Sayed-Khaiyum and Sharma trial to start on March 2nd

The State will be calling 21 witnesses in the Health Tender trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Health Minister Doctor Neil Sharma which starts on 2nd March.

State prosecutor, Laisani Tabuakoro also says they will be filing their trial bundle next Friday.

The case was called before Justice Usaia Ratuvili this morning.

Defence counsel for Sharma who was excused from appearing today, Krisheel Chang says they will reserve their right to object at this time.

Counsel for Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum, Gul Fatima says they do not have anything to add as they will await the list of witnesses to be served to them.

It is alleged that Bainimarama, who is charged with one count of abuse of office, on 13th September 2011, being the Minister of Finance, recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting a waiver of tender process without lawful justification for a Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation.

It is alleged that on 20th October 2011, being employed as the Acting Minister of Finance, Sayed-Khaiyum recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting a waiver of the tender process without lawful justification for a Ministry of Health Tender CTN 153/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation.

It is also alleged that on 29th June 2012, being employed in the public service as the Attorney General, Sayed-Khaiyum intentionally obstructed the FICAC investigation against Dr. Neil Sharma relating to a Health Tender CTN 66/2011 by directing all investigations to be shelved until further notice, which resulted in the cessation of the FICAC investigation and no criminal charges being filed against Dr Neil Sharma for the past 10 years.

Dr Sharma is charged with two counts of abuse of office and two counts of breach of trust by a person employed in the public service.

It is alleged that between 3rd August 2011 to 13th September 2011, Sharma abused his position as the Minister of Health by intentionally failing to comply with statutory requirements for tenders stipulated under the Procurement Regulation for the Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 and actively engaged in acts to undermine CTN 66/2011 in favour of the bidder, Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd, also known as Hospineer.