The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has today stressed in the Suva High court that former Airports Fiji Limited CEO Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia allegedly used company funds for personal use knowing he will not be questioned as he was the boss.

FICAC Lawyer Mahadavan Tenakoon made closing submissions before the three assessors this morning and highlighted as CEO Tuisolia was to serve AFL faithfully and diligently and use his best endeavors to promote and protect AFL.

Tenakoon said it was Tuisolia himself who used the company credit card and made the sole decision on which were personal and which were official transactions and there was a complete lack of transparency and accountability.

He said Tuisolia knew no one would question him because he was the big boss.

He stated that Tuisolia received the highest top up on per diems in Fiji and still used the company credit card for personal use and his excuse was that he had to stay in expensive hotels because he was a big boss.

Tenakoon said Tuisolia spent AFL money as, when and when he pleased and incurred extravagant expenditure for the company.

He highlighted that Tuisolia used the credit card to buy a camera, mobile phone, spent money for personal use while on a holiday trip to watch the Hong Kong sevens, bought corporate shirts from expensive outlets amongst others and there was clearly not urgency which required him to use the credit card.

Tenakoon than referred to several credit card transactions where Tuisolia spent significant amount of funds but there were no receipts, memo's of any other supporting document to explain the expenses.

He questioned the assessors to consider seriously why Tuisolia did not submit any receipts when he used to when he first took up office.
 
Tenakoon said when AFL started making direct payments to the bank for credit card expenses, it allowed Tuisolia to delay reconciliation, reimbursement and submit credit card statements for upto six months as AFL had to make the payments whether there were receipts or not.

He said AFL had clear procedures to follow for purchase of items which were clearly ignored by Tuisolia.

He said we could not expect the former AFL Chairman Viliame Leqa to take any action as Leqa also used the credit card for diners and lunches, accommodation and airfares and is also subject to allegations of mismanagement of funds.

Speaking on the AFL cost center reports, the FICAC lawyer maintained that it was Tuisolia who had instructed his staff to list the credit card transactions under Office Supplies as a means to hide the transactions.

He said these actions show that Tuisolia had intent to defraud AFL for personal gain and should be found guilty on all six counts.

High Court Judge Justice Sitambarampillai Thurairaja will sum on the case this afternoon before the assessors retire behind closed doors to deliberate on a verdict.

 
Story by: Roneel Lal