Ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court just after 2PM today and pleaded not guilty to his latest charge of abuse of office.
It is alleged that on May 14th, 2004, while Qarase was the Prime Minister and Minister for Fijian Affairs, and Chairman of the Fijian Affairs Board he allegedly authorised the inappropriate usage of the extinct mataqali funds by the Native Land Trust Board.
Magistrate Aminiasi Katonivualiku granted bail to Qarase at a sum of $500 without assurity and called on the prosecution to amalgamate a separate case of alleged abuse of office against Qarase with the new case to enable both cases to be dealt with at the same time.
The case is adjourned to 23rd June for mention.
Meanwhile, Qarase is also charged with abuse of office in relation to Fijian Holdings Limited.
Saturday 10th May 2008: Qarase to be questioned on new allegations
Ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is expected to be questioned again by FICAC this hour in relation to a new case relating to allegations of abuse of office in 2003.
Qarase was questioned for two hours yesterday before the interview was suspended and FICAC confirmed he will be questioned again throughout today.
Speaking to Fijivillage, Qarase said he has agreed to cooperate with FICAC and will engage his lawyers by Monday.
Qarase confirmed that the allegations against him relate to when he was Prime Minister in 2003 where a set of regulations prepared for NLTB was endorsed by cabinet. He said it is alleged that he somehow abused the powers vested in the minister responsible by making those regulations.
However, it has been confirmed FICAC is now investigating the alleged inappropriate usage of the extinct mataqali funds by NLTB and some ousted government ministers for the purpose of setting up a commercial company.
Fijivillage has established that the extinct mataqali funds totaled about $7million and it was supposed to benefit the landowners. However, the approval was allegedly given to use the extinct mataqali funds to form commercial companies and some of the key NLTB board members also took up positions in the companies formed.
Friday 9th May 2008 Qarase to be Questioned Again by FICAC
Ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase who was being questioned by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has been released and will be questioned again tomorrow.
FICAC this afternoon confirmed that the questioning has been suspended and Qarase was released and told to come back tomorrow.
Qarase was called in for questioning in relation to a new case this morning. Qarase's wife Leba earlier confirmed that the Ousted Prime Minister went to the FICAC headquarters at about 10 o'clock this morning.
Speaking to Fijivillage news this afternoon Qarase confirms that allegations against him date back to 2003 in relation to certain regulations made at the time.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that FICAC is now investigating the alleged inappropriate usage of the extinct mataqali funds by the Native Land Trust Board and some ousted government ministers for the purposes of setting up a commercial company.
