High Court Judge, Justice Paul Madigan will sum up the alleged $3 million scam case this Friday before the four assessors retire behind closed doors and come back with their verdict.
Defence lawyer, Taina Leweni who is representing one of the accused Aisea Liwaiono, said in her closing submission today that FICAC did not prove her client’s case beyond reasonable doubt.
Leweni says Liwaiono had no knowledge of any dishonest conduct and he was not aware that the documents he was signing were false or had forged signatures.
Meanwhile FICAC Prosecutor Rashmi Aslam has told the four assessors that the first accused, Feroz Jan Mohammed was involved in the falsification of invoices.
While making his closing submission, Aslam also highlighted that former civil servant, Iliesa Turagacati dishonestly caused a loss by being the project accountant and a civil servant. He says Turagacati’s role was to ensure that the records are correct and to check whether payments are done.
Aslam says in most of the invoices, Turagacati certified it and out of the 14 payment vouchers, 10 claims did not go through a verification process.
He says it is alleged that $110,000 was paid to Turagacati by Feroz Jan Mohammed.
Aslam says the question is whether the money given was a form of a bribe.
Five people are charged in relation to the alleged scam including the former Roads Supervisor of the Department of National Roads, Aisea Liwaiono who has been charged with two counts of Causing a Loss while businessman Feroz Jan Mohammed and former civil servants Iliesa Turagacati and Navitalai Tamanitoakula are charged with Bribery, Obtaining a Financial Advantage and Abuse of Office.
