Former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase appeared in the Suva High Court this morning seeking variations to his bail conditions.

Qarase's lawyer, Qoriniasi Bale informed High Court Judge Justice Daniel Gounder that his client intends to travel overseas and would require the court's permission.

Judge Gounder has given time to Bale and FICAC Lawyer Paul Madigan to prepare their submissions before the hearing on the bail variation application is heard in open court on July 16th.

Qarase is currently on bail after he had pleaded not guilty to five counts of abuse of office.

It is alleged that in May 2004 Qarase, while being Prime Minister, Minister for Fijian Affairs and Chairman of the NLTB did an arbitrary act by gazetting regulations which gave the NLTB the powers to invest any trust funds held in trust thereby causing prejudice to the rights of the Fijian Affairs Board.

It is also alleged that Qarase, while being director of the Fiji Development Bank in 1992 allocated shares to companies owned by his Family members without declaring his interest and relationship with the companies.