The Chief Magistrate is expected to make a decision later this week on whether the case regarding Chief Executive of Housing Authority will have his case heard in another court.

Alipate Naiorosui is charged with one count of abuse of office and it is alleged that while he was the former Deputy Chairman of the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited between the 7th and 13th December 2006 approved a payment of $177,000 in early retirement to Herbert Hazelman who was employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited, without the authority of the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited Board.

This morning, FICAC lawyer Vincent Parera informed High Court Judge, Justice Thusarra Rajasinghe that since there was another FICAC matter of the same nature taking place in another court, it would only be reasonable if the matter was transferred to the other court.

However, Naiorosui's lawyer Aseri Vakaloloma who was tied up in another case this morning, gave instructions that the matter not be transferred as Naiorosui was charged separately from Herbert Hazelman and Sialeni Vuetaki who have been also charged for the same offence.

Justice Rajasinghe informed the two counsels that only the Chief Magistrate had the right to transfer cases and therefore a decision would be made later.

The matter is expected to be heard again on the 9th of this month.


Story By: Paradise Tabucala