The case against the former director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been adjourned to July 27, for mention.

Luke Rawalai, charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with three counts of abuse of office and two counts of receiving a bribe, appeared yesterday in the High Court in Suva.

The matter was called before Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.

FICAC lawyer Joseph Work filed and served the information and disclosures and further sought more time to serve additional disclosures.

Rawalai is represented by Aman Ravindra-Singh.

Count one: Abuse of office

It is alleged that between June 17, 2011 and March 14, 2014 in Suva, whilst being employed in the public service as the Director CID and a Senior Superintended of the Fiji Police Force, in abuse of the authority of his office, did arbitrary acts for the purpose of gain namely interfered with the Police Investigation conducted by way of Nadi Enquiry Paper 147/10 into an allegation of rape which is an act Prejudicial to the Fiji Police Force.

Count two: Abuse of office

It is alleged that between February 1, 2013 and March 31, 2013 in Suva, in abuse of the authority of his office, did an arbitrary act for the purpose of gain namely directed the Nadi Police Station Criminal Investigation Division Personnel to charge for Police Docket CR 213/13 without any evidence and against the findings of the Nadi Police Station Criminal Investigation Division Personnel which is an act Prejudicial to the Fiji Police Force.

Count three: Receiving a bribe

It is alleged that between January 3, 2012 and December 5, 2013 in Suva, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse received a benefit of F$2400 for himself with the intention that his duties as a public official will be influenced.

Count four: Abuse of office

It is alleged that between December 1, 2012 and January 31, 2014 in Suva, in abuse of the authority of his office, did arbitrary acts for the purpose of gain namely interfered with the Police Investigation conducted by way of Police Enquiry Paper 22/12 into an allegation of forgery of a will which is an act Prejudicial to the Fiji Police Force.

Count five: Receiving a bribe

It is alleged that between December 1, 2012 and January 31, 2014 at Suva, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, received a benefit of F$5723 for himself with the intention that his duties as a public official will be influenced.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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