Former Native Land Trust Board director and Vanua Development Corporation Chairman, Keni Dakuidreketi has pleaded not guilty to five counts of abuse of office before Justice Janaka Bandara.

While starting the prosecution’s case, Queens Counsel, Michael Blanchflower told the assessors that the case is about the law that governs the use of offices and rules that have to be followed.

He said according to the rules, one must always act in the interest of the public.

Blanchflower said that the accused committed the offences between 2004 and 2005 and during this time he held a public officer’s position.

Blanchflower said Dakuidreketi made decisions which benefitted Pacific Connex Limited by favoring and approving loans and securities to Pacific Connex.

He also said that Pacific Connex did not have the money to operate and was depending on loan after loan.

He also revealed that Pacific Connex took one loan to pay off another loan.

Blanchlower also said that Dakuidreketi was aware of Pacific Connex Limited’s situation as he was on their board.

He said the loans given to Pacific Connex comprised of extinct mataqali funds, trust funds and government grants.

Blanchflower said in court that all this time, NLTB was not aware of these loans and securities.                   

Dakuidreketi is facing five counts of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Dakuidreketi between 31st March 2004 and 21st September 2004, while being employed as a member of NLTB and Chairman of Vanua Development Corporation, in abuse of the authority of his office, did an arbitrary act for the purpose of gain, by facilitating a loan of $2 million to be made by Vanua Development Corporation to Pacific Connex, which was prejudicial to the NLTB and indigenous Fijians.

The second count relates to Dakuidreketi allegedly facilitating a loan of $900,000 to be made by Vanua Development Corporation to Pacific Connex between the 16th and the 29th of November 2004.

The third count said that Dakuidreketi between about 28th February 2005 to 28th April 2005 allegedly facilitated a government grant of $1 million disbursed to Vanua Development Corporation through the NLTB to be used as security for a loan to Pacific Connex Limited by Dominion Finance.

For the fourth count it is alleged that Dakuidreketi again between 27th April 2005 to 3rd July 2007 while being employed as a member of NLTB and Chairman of Vanua Development Corporation facilitated a government grant of $1 million disbursed to Vanua Development Corporation through the NLTB to be used as security for overdraft and loan facilities provided to Pacific Connex, by ANZ Bank.

It is also alleged that Dakuidreketi between 23rd September 2005 and 29th September 2005 facilitated a loan of $1 million to be made by the Vanua Development Corporation to Pacific Connex, which was prejudicial to the NLTB and the indigenous Fijians.

Vanua Development Corporation was set up as an investment arm of NLTB which included the involvement of Dakuidreketi while Pacific Connex was an IT company set up by Ballu Khan.

Dakuidreketi was a board member of Pacific Connex Limited. 

Blanchflower said in court today that in 2004, Ballu Khan went to Vanua Development Corporation with a proposal which allowed Vanua Development to appoint three directors. 

Keni Dakuidreketi and former NLTB General Manager, Kalivati Bakani were then appointed as directors of Pacific Connex.
 
The first prosecution witness is expected to take the stand tomorrow.