The Magistrates Court in Suva has granted Solo Mara leave to travel for his employment purposes.

The former diplomat and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.

He appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Usaia Ratuvili,  in Suva facing charges of giving false information and disobedience of a lawful order.

He was represented by Suva lawyer Sharoneel Deo from R Patel Lawyers.

The prosecution was represented by FICAC counsel, Sam Savumiramira.

The matter was called for bail variation application.

Mr Deo said Mara had to travel from February 22 to March 3 to attend a conference overseas.

The court had issued a stop departure order and had ordered Mara to surrender his passports and travel documents when he appeared in court on January 27.

Mr Deo filed to seek grant on the travel because the accused would be required to travel often given the nature of his employment with the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF).

He also told the court that Mara would only travel when he was representing PIDF and not for his personal travels.

Mr Savumiramira told the court that the prosecution and defence were on an agreement that whenever the accused wished to travel, he would inform FICAC on his travel itineraries.

He also did not object to the application for change of address.

Chief Magistrate Ratuvili granted Mara leave to travel.

The accused will be allowed to travel out of Fiji from February 22 to March 3 and also allowed to travel for the purposes of his role with the PIDF.

Chief Magistrate Ratuvili ordered that Mara upon return, would have to surrender his travel documents to the registry.

He also allowed Mara to change his residential address.

He also ordered that Mara’s diplomatic passport and travel documents were to be released and the Immigration Department notified on his travels.

The matter has been adjourned for mention on March 13.

Edited by Percy Kean

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