QC Remy Van De Wiel fights Qarase’s case

Former Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase’s Queens Counsel Remy van de Wiel has made submissions in the Fiji Court of Appeal that Qarase did not hold a civil service position when he was adviser to the Fijian Affairs Board and Great Council of Chiefs.

While presenting his argument in Qarase’s bid to appeal his conviction and one year sentence, Wiel said Qarase’s duty in 1991 was to provide advice and he did not have an office under the Fijian Affairs Act. He said based on this, Qarase did not abuse his authority.

QC Wiel said as “for the purpose of gain” his client was not a shareholder and he was an unpaid Director of Mavana Investments Limited. 

He also claims that Qarase was an unpaid advisor to Cicia Plantation.

QC Wiel highlighted during his submission that the 71-year-old former Prime Minister is charged with an offence which was 20 years old. 

He said Qarase is also of good character as Joe Mar had said during the time of the trial.

Qarase’s lawyer also said the assessors were not directed or assisted although they had copies of the volumes of documents.

He said the trial judge did not do a proper analysis as there was no relationship between the law and the facts in the Fijian Holdings Limited case. 

 

Wiel referred to one of the FHL board minutes in November 1991 where he claimed that the then board secretary, Sitiveni Weleilakeba did not write the finer details of what was discussed in the meeting.

This is in relation to the claim earlier made by Qarase’s counsel that he had declared his interests in Q-Ten Investments, Mavana Investments and Cicia Plantation Co-op Society Limited before the application, approval and allotment of FHL shares were made. 

Weleilakeba had maintained during the trial last year that if the declaration was not made, then it was not recorded by him. 

According to the evidence presented in the High Court trial, there is no written proof from the minutes that Qarase had declared his interest.  

Qarase was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by High Court Judge, Justice Priyantha Fernando in August last year after he was found guilty of six counts of abuse of office and three counts of discharging his duty with respect to property in which he had a private interest.

Meanwhile FICAC Senior Counsel, Michael Blanchflower is expected to make his submission today.