FICAC is now in the process of consolidating the cases of former Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase and former executives of the Native Land Trust Board, Keni Dakuidreketi, Kalivati Bakani and Alanieta Vakatale.

The case of Dakuidreketi, Bakani and Vakatale who are facing counts of fraudulent conversion and abuse of office, has been adjourned to next month.

It is alleged that between the 31st of March 2004 to 10th November 2005, the three had allegedly conspired together with others to effect an unlawful purpose namely the defrauding of the NLTB of its trust funds valued at 3.7 million dollars and a government grant valued at 1 million dollars by causing the payments of these funds to support a defunct Information Technology System called MYSAP.

It is alleged that Dakuidreketi being the director and Bakani being the Managing Director of NLTB, on the 10th of November 2005 fraudulently converted into operational costs for the implementation and maintenance of the MYSAP system, a government grant of 1 million dollars earmarked by the then government for the use of NLTB through its investment arm, Vanua Development Corporation for the purposes of investment to generate revenue.

It is also alleged that Bakani and Vakatale between 31st March 2004 and 31st April 2005, whilst being employed in the public service, executed a Business Solution Agreement on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the NLTB in contravention of the Native Land Trust Act.

FICAC alleges that these are arbitrary acts in abuse of the authority of their respective offices and prejudicial to the rights of the NLTB and its beneficiaries.   

The case will be heard by Justice Daniel Gounder again on the 19th of next month.