The Suva High Court will make a ruling next month on whether charges laid against former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and former Fijian Holdings Limited CEO Sitiveni Weleilakeba will be consolidated into one trial.

Qarase was not present in court today as he was earlier granted permission by the court to be excused.

Qarase's lawyer Qoriniasi Bale informed the court that he filed submissions opposing the consolidation of charges.

Judge Justice Daniel Gounder said he will look through all the submissions and make a ruling on the consolidation application on September 3rd.

This case relates to when Qarase was a director of Fijian Holdings Limited and had allegedly allotted FHL shares to companies owned by his family members without approval from the respective boards.

Weleilakeba is charged with alleged conspiracy to Effect an Unlawful Purpose and one count of Forgery and one count of Uttering Forged Document.

In a separate case, Qarase is charged with abuse of office and FICAC wants to also consolidate the charges with those against former NLTB General Manager Kalivati Bakani.

Judge Gounder has given all counsels to make written submissions after Bakani's lawyer Devinesh Sharma raised concern that the affidavit from FICAC investigator does not highlight the common grounds for the need for consolidation.

This case relates to Qarase, as Prime Minister had allegedly gazetted laws which gave the NLTB powers to invest any trust funds held in trust by them thereby causing prejudice to the rights of the Fijian Affairs Board.

Bakani is charged with abuse of office.

The matter will be called for mention on September 10th.


Story by: Roneel Lal