The Director of Repina Wholesalers Pita Alifereti who is alleged to have obtained thousands of dollars in the Agriculture scam, chose to give his evidence under oath as the trial continued this morning.
Alifereti revealed upon questioning from his defense counsel that after the Farming Assistance Scheme was approved by the cabinet in 2000 all senior officials and accounts executives of the Agriculture Ministry met to decide on who will supply the items under the scheme.
According to Alifereti it was decided at the meeting that his company, Repina Wholesalers was selected as the approved supplier to the scheme and was also approved by the administrators of the Affirmative Action Program under which the scheme was being implemented.
The accused also gave an account of how his company purchased items from Morris Hedstrom and other importers to supply chemicals and other items to those who had been approved under the Farming Assistance Scheme.
However, he stressed that his company was not responsible to supply items such as brush cutters, boats, outboard engines and generators under the scheme due to the small purchasing power of his company.
Alifereti also presented in court his income tax returns for the year 2000 and 2001 showing his expenses and profits his company made for supplying the goods under the scheme and that all his accounts were in order.
He will be cross examined by the prosecution this afternoon as the case continues.
