Former CEO of Airports Fiji Limited Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia is taking the stand in the High court again this morning giving sworn evidence to explain how he spent the company's funds.

His defence Counsel Devinesh Sharma showed Tuisolia various documents in relation to his agreements with AFL and questioned him on the expenses he incurred when he was the CEO.

Tuisolia told the court that when he started his career as CEO of AFL in 2003, the company was facing huge problems and almost had zero relations with the stakeholders and he was instructed by the company board to address this problem.

Tuisolia told the court that one of his key duties as CEO was to engage business partners and the company stakeholders in corporate entertainment in an effort to build and strengthen professional relations.

However he said when he first joined the company he was not issued a company credit card and Tuisolia recalled on one occasion he was at an official function where they were entertaining corporate clients with the management and board members where he paid for the all costs from his own pocket with the intention to seek reimbursement.

He said the board members were concerned as he should not be paying for these expenses and said that he applied for a company credit card which was later issued to him with a limit of $10 000 per year, under the condition that he submit receipts of every expense.

The court heard that from October 2004 he started using the credit card mainly for entertaining business partners and stakeholders at various dinners, lunches and drinks.

He also used the credit card for entertaining airport executives overseas on his trips as it was a business custom and this happened on several occasions.

Tuisolia told the court that when he used the credit card for personal expenses, he would reimburse AFL for these expenses.

He also said he did not have any role in preparing any financial statements or making any payments which was the responsibility of the Finance department.

Tuisolia also revealed that he was authorized to sign contracts for AFL for upto $1.5 million and revealed that as CEO he was receiving $80,000 per annum as salary.

He said he was managing $180 million of assets under AFL which is solely owned by the people of Fiji.

Tuisolia continues to give evidence in the High Court this hour.



Story by: Sofaia Koroitanoa