Defence Counsel Given Time To Respond To Written Statement
Counsel for former Fiji National University (FNU) vice chancellor Ganesh Chand has been given until March 9 to respond to an affidavit in opposition filed by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC).
FICAC filed the affidavit on January 29. This was confirmed by Chand’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma.
Chand is charged with one count of abuse of office.
It is alleged that between November 14, 2012 and July 4, 2013 while being employed in the public service as the FNU VC, he allegedly abused the authority of his office by doing an arbitrary act for the purpose of gain.
This was by approving the payment of $213,905.05 for overseas medical treatment for former Minister of Education and FNU chairman, Filipe Bole.
The funds from FNU funds were released without the approval of the FNU council which was prejudicial to the rights of the university and the council.
Mr Sharma informed High Court Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza that he intended to call Mr Bole to give evidence regarding a statement he had given to FICAC.
The court heard that Mr Bole had disclosed in his statement that he was not the final decision maker for the medical scheme and that it was up to the FNU Council.
Mr Sharma said their line of attack was that as the minister Mr Bole had written a letter on his own letterhead to request for Chand’s facilitation of payment of his medical fees.
He said Mr Bole had requested for payment on his own behalf.
He said the person who had authorised the payment went scot-free while his client was charged.
Mr Sharma further stated that on November 2, 2012 which was 10 days before Mr Bole had requested for payment of his medical fees, he had approved the medical scheme for insurance for directors.
Mr Sharma said if it was Mr Bole’s position that the council had the final say than why did he approve the medical scheme and also apply for payment of his own medical expenses.
Defence counsel submitted that there was a conflict of facts which Mr Bole was the centre of.
Mr Sharma requested for 14 days to respond to FICAC’s affidavit in opposition, however he was given until March 9 to do so.
Chand’s bail has been extended.
Edited by Percy Kean
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