The case of former Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Audio Visual Commission Taniela Bolea who has been charged with four counts of abuse of office has started in the Suva Magistrates court.

It is alleged that between January 2004 to July 2007 Bolea approved the payment of more than 7,248 dollars on several occasions to ANZ Bank for a Visa Business Account, without the approval of the FAVC Chairman thereby causing prejudice to the rights of the FAVC.

The first witness who was employed as a legal practitioner at FAVC, Barbara Malimali told the court that she was summoned by Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption to give evidence because she had initially written a letter to FICAC to complain against Bolea.

Malimali told the court that she had worked for Fiji Audio Visual Commission from May 2006 to January 2008 and had lodged the complaint because she had enough of the things that were happening.

She was asked by FICAC Prosecutor Ranjitha Siriwansa to elaborate more on this and she said that she was disillusioned by what she saw, the mismanagement and the abuse of funds and she could not carry on working there.

She also told the court that she had worked closely with the accountant, the receptionist and the CEO's personal assistant.

Malimali was then asked about Fiji Audio Visual Commission's travel policy and Business Visa Card Usage.

She informed the court that all payment was subject to board for approval and payments were not made unless approved by the Chief Executive Officer.

Malimali informed the court that the accountant often had to chase after the CEO for receipts and Bolea allegedly used to bark at the accountant.

She then told the court that sometimes they got calls from the Bank that FAVC was late with payments.

In cross examination Defence Counsel Qoriniasi Bale asked Malimali if she had meant what she had written in a letter dated 17th January 2008 where she had thanked Bolea saying that she had learnt a lot in 20 months.

On this, she said that she had meant it.

It was revealed in court that the complaint letter against Bolea was signed by Malimali but was compiled by the accountant and the Personal Assistant.

Bale then alleged that Malimali lodged the complaint because she had a personal grudge against Bolea, on which she said that she did not dislike him before and neither does she dislike him now.

He also asked Malimali that there were complaint procedures on operation management and why she did not use it.

On this she said that it covered the staff and not the CEO and she could not complain to the board so she lodged the complaint with FICAC.

The case continues in the Magistrates court this hour.