Opposition parliamentarian Mikaele Leawere has been ordered to pay the Attorney-General’s Office $1000.

This was after High Court Judge, Justice David Alfred, dismissed defence lawyer, Jon Apted’s plea to strike out the A-Gs Office’s challenge of the Electoral Commission’s decision to award Mr Leawere a vacant seat in Parliament.

Mr Apted argued that his client was transparent about his position. However, their petition was denied and Mr Leawere was ruled to pay the A-G’s office $1000 for court costs.

First counsel for the A-G’s Office, Devanesh Sharma, reminded   the court the electoral decree stated that if a person was to take up a public position, the person was automatically disqualified from Parliament.

He argued that once Mr Leawere took up the position in the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) he was no longer eligible to be awarded a seat in parliament.

The case has been adjourned till this morning for other submissions.

Mr Leawere of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) was awarded the seat after the death of parliamentarian Ratu Viliame Tagivetaua.

Feedback: stella.moresio@fijisun.com.fj