The Fiji Court of Appeal has ordered the High Court judge’s notes and court re­cords to be released in an appeal case of former Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner, Ifereimi Vasu, and former Acting Deputy Commissioner, Peniasi Kunatuba.

They were charged with one count of abuse of office each by Fiji Inde­pendent Commission Against Cor­ruption (FICAC) and were acquit­ted accordingly by the High Court in Suva after a trial.

Ifereimi Vasu (left), and former Acting Deputy Commissioner, Peniasi Kunatuba.

It was alleged that Vasu, as direc­tor of Naboro Mart Limited, and Kunatuba as director of Corporate Service, in abuse of the authority of their office, did arbitrary acts for the purpose of gain, namely facilitating and approving the pur­chasing of goods to the amount of $131,683.33 and $60,345.65 respec­tively, from Naboro Mart Limited.

This was contrary to the Procure­ment Regulations 2010 of the Fi­nancial Management Act 2004 and the Finance Manual of the FCS, which were acts prejudicial to the rights of the Fiji Government, FCS, and the approved Government con­tractors.

Appeals Judge Justice Chandana Prematilaka adjourned the matter to October 12 to check on the re­lease of the Judge’s notes from the High Court registry and the pro­gress of the court record.

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj