The trial of former Nasinu Mayor, Rajeshwar Kumar and former clerk, Jaswant Kumar has taken a twist after FICAC lawyers this morning asked the High Court that their main witness be declared hostile.

The two 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.

After a thirty minute break at about 11:30 this morning, FICAC Lawyer, Laisa Lagilevu petitioned Judge Justice Daniel Goundar that their witness, Vinita Prasad, who was at the time of the alleged offence an accounts officer with the Nasinu Town Council, was giving evidence that was an extreme departure from what she had earlier given in her statement to FICAC.

Justice Goundar agreed to the application despite objection from Rajendra Chaudhry, the lawyer for the two accused Rajeshwar Kumar and Jaswant Kumar.

FICAC then proceeded with their cross examination of their witness, Vinita Prasad where she said that procedures were not followed by the Town Council in relation to the raising of the cheque in this case.

She said there were no signatures of the certifying officer and no identity of the person who had picked up the cheque.

The High Court had earlier heard from Prasad that the procedure was that a payment order be done, after which an officer had to certify the cheque, then payment done to Post Fiji for the purchase of stationery.

Prasad also said that the cheques issued were normally non-negotiable cheques which is the standard procedure when making payments to Post Fiji.

The Court heard that in this case, the cheque butt was addressed to Post Fiji however the Cheque leaf did not correspond to what was written on the Cheque butt.

High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar has adjourned the case to this afternoon for Chaudhry to begin cross examination of the witness.