The hearing of former mayor of Nasinu, Rajeshwar Kumar and former clerk of Nasinu, Jaswant Kumar will start in the Suva High court next Monday.

Both are facing charges of abuse of office and embezzlement.

It is alleged both had colluded to raise a cheque amounting to $2,344 for payment to Post Fiji Limited, however the cheque was cashed at the Westpac Bank without the knowledge of Post Fiji Limited.

The case was set for pre-trail conference this morning however their lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry did not appear.

Chaudhry had sent a letter to FICAC this morning, informing prosecution that he will not attend court this morning, as he was sick.

Aseri Vakaloloma represented Chaudhry in court today.

Judge Goundar asked Vakaloloma what Chaudhry meant in a letter to the court dated on January 23rd that he had no instructions from his clients on the pre-trial conference.

Vakalaloma had no answer in regards to this.

Justice Goundar then asked the accused persons, if Chaudhry had given them any documents for the pre-trial conference, to which they answered no.

Justice Goundar asked the accused persons if they even knew that their trial was to start in February and they responded that they had thought the trial date was set for February 10th.

Justice Goundar closed the morning proceedings by stating that he would not vacate the trial date, which is to begin next Monday.