Former Nasinu Town Clerk Jaswant Kumar charged with abuse of office and embezzlement took the stand this morning in the Suva High Court.

During cross examination, his lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry asked Kumar to tell the court about the charges laid against him.

Kumar replied that he was charged for signing a cash cheque made out to Post Fiji but the cheque was cashed by someone else.

Upon questioning, Kumar also told the court his duty as a finance manager at that time was revenue collection measures and also to report directly to the Town Clerk Azmat Khan adding there were no instructions on any financial manual to be adopted.

Chaudhry then asked him on what financial practices were used by them and Kumar replied that they followed what the Town Clerk used to do.

Kumar also informed the court that they had an arrangement with Post Fiji on the Back to School Promotion, where the Council staff bought the books and got their salaries deducted from which the payment would then be made to Post Fiji.  

He also told the court that on 26th May 2006, he prepared a payment voucher for the purchase of books bought from Post Fiji, amounting to $2,344.42.

Chaudhry then asked that an issue was raised that the voucher was not certified, to which Kumar replied that he was one of the chief signatories and that he was the approving officer.

The trial continues in the High Court.