The defence counsel for former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is expected to close its case in Qarase’s Fijian Holdings Limited trial by tomorrow.

Defence lawyer Tupou Draunidalo has so far presented five witnesses while former FHL board director Joe Mar is expected to give evidence from England via skype today. 

Laisenia Qarase’s son, Laisenia Qarase Junior, who is now residing in the US is also expected to give evidence via skype.

Yesterday FICAC’s senior counsel Michael Blanchflower presented documents in the High Court which revealed that Q-Ten Investments had 48,000 shares in Mavana Investments, making it the second largest shareholder in Mavana while Qarase’s wife Leba had 8,000 shares.

It was also confirmed that Mavana Investments had two secretaries in 1999.

They were Laisenia Qarase and his son Qarase Junior.

Mavana Investments had taken a loan from the Fiji Development Bank to purchase 200,000 Class A FHL shares in 1991. 

Qarase had applied for the shares. 

He was the managing director of FDB and a director of FHL at the time.

Defence witness Naulumatua Josateki Koroi agreed in court today that Mavana Investments bought shares in FHL because the annual dividend payout of FHL was 20 percent.

Koroi, who is a shareholder of Mavana Investments Limited, said the company decided to buy the FHL shares in 1991 to lessen the burden on the people. 

He also confirmed that none of the directors of Mavana Investments were paid for their services. 

Koroi said Qarase was a director of Mavana Investments.

Upon cross examination by Blanchflower, Koroi said he was approached to give evidence on behalf of Qarase two days ago.

Koroi said no other company had invested in Mavana Investments, however, he confirmed that Q-Ten Investments owned shares in Mavana when he was shown the shareholding listing by Blanchflower. 

Koroi said that he did not know that it was a limited company, he only knew that it was a family company of Qarase.

The fifth defence witness in the trial Josua Toa, who is a shareholder of Mavana Investments, today told the court that Qarase recommended other villagers to buy shares in Mavana Investments in a company meeting in 1991.

He said he bought shares in the company to ensure he gets some income when he gets old. 

Toa confirmed he bought shares in Mavana Investments through the funds in his Fiji National Provident Fund account.

According to Toa, money received through dividends were used in the upgrading of churches, halls, and improvement of water and electricity supply.

He also confirmed that none of directors of Mavana Investments received any payments.

Qarase is charged with 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 applied, and then facilitated and allowed the purchase of Class A FHL shares for certain companies when he was director of FHL, financial advisor of the Fijian Affairs Board and advisor to the Great Council of Chiefs.

Stay with us for coverage on Qarase’s trial. 


Story by: Vijay Narayan & Ronal Deo