Former Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase’s Fijian Holdings Limited trial will go ahead on the 3rd of next month.
That was the ruling handed down by High Court judge, Justice Priyantha Fernando today after Qarase applied for the trial date to be vacated as he is still looking for a suitable lawyer.
Justice Fernando said that eight months was given to Qarase to look for a lawyer however time was not used wisely by him and the court cannot wait indefinitely.
He said that the trial date for the 3rd July will remain.
The case is adjourned to the 28th of this month where all bundles of agreed documents are to be checked in court and ready for the trial.
Qarase's lawyer, Qoriniasi Bale told the court that he will try his best to look for someone locally and he is expected to make an application for withdrawal in the next court sitting.
Bale highlighted earlier this week that Qarase is having great difficulty in securing a Queens Counsel because the ones that he has interviewed from Australia are too expensive.
He is now searching for a QC from New Zealand.
Qarase faces six 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 between 1992 to 2000 while employed as a Director of Fijian Holdings Limited, Financial Advisor of the Fijian Affairs Board and Advisor to the Great Council of Chiefs, and in abuse of the authority of his office, applied in the name of Cicia Plantation Co-Op Society Limited, Mavana Investments Limited and a family owned company named Q-Ten Investments Limited for the issuance and allotment of Class A shares in Fijian Holdings Limited.
Story by: Vijay Narayan and Tokasa Rainima
