High Court Judge Justice Priyantha Fernando, is now waiting for the three assessors to return with their opinion on the nine charges faced by former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in the Fijian Holdings Limited trial.
Justice Fernando has just summed up the case and the assessors have retired behind closed doors to deliberate on their opinion.
Court will resume when the assessors are ready.
While summing up Justice Fernando directed the assessors that for the first six counts faced by Qarase, they have to come back with an opinion of guilty or not guilty.
He said if they come back with the guilty opinion then he will ask the assessors’ opinion if Qarase abused his office for gain.
He said they will have to say yes or no.
The first six counts deal with the charge of abuse of office and relate to the application, allotment and issuance of Class A FHL shares to Cicia Plantation Co-op Society Limited, Mavana Investments Limited and Q-Ten Investments Limited.
For the remaining three counts, the presiding judge said the assessors have to assess whether the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the accused discharged his duty with respect to property in which he has a private interest.
He said the assessors must use common sense in deciding on the facts. Justice Fernando said the assessors must consider evidence in separate accounts when dealing with the charges.
The maximum sentence for abuse of office is three years imprisonment.
Qarase is charged with 6 counts of abuse of office and three counts of discharge of duty with respect to property in which he has a private interest.
It is alleged that Qarase applied, and then facilitated and allowed the purchase of Class A FHL shares for certain companies when he was Director of FHL, Financial Advisor of the Fijian Affairs Board and Advisor to the Great Council of Chiefs.
Stay with us for coverage on Qarase’s trial.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
