High Court judge Justice Daniel Gounder has refused an application from former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase seeking permission to travel overseas.

Judge Gounder stated in his ruling that Qarase has not shown good cause on his need to travel to Australia.

The High Court judge said Qarase has not provided any details of his legal expenses as he intended to raise funds for his court case.

Judge Gounder said Qarase has also not shown that he has no other means to raise funds for his case and that he would be prejudiced if he is not permitted to travel overseas.

The judge then went on and said that it is not unreasonable to restrict him from travelling overseas and it does not breach his rights to liberty.

Judge Gounder also ordered that Qarase is to notify FICAC and his counsel if he intends to travel to Vanuabalavu in the future.

While discussing the charges against Qarase with FICAC lawyer Aca Rayawa, Judge Gounder questioned whether it was a criminal act if a minister made a retrospective legislation.

This is in relation to Qarase being charged with allegedly gazetting regulations which gave NLTB the powers to invest any trust funds held in Trust.

Judge Gounder told Rayawa that they will have to show if there was criminal intent in what Qarase is alleged to have done.

Following that, Rayawa also informed the court that they have another co-accused, who is expected to stand trial with Qarase in this case, and they are still deliberating on whether additional charges will be laid against Qarase.

The case is now set for trial on January 19th 2010.