The Director of Public Prosecutions has filed amended charges in the case involving Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited.

The matter was called before Magistrate Seini Puamau at the Magistrates Court in Suva yesterday.

Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited is charged by the Director of Public Prosecutions with one count each of undertaking unauthorised developments and of failure to comply with a prohibition notice.

For the charge of undertaking unauthorised developments, it is alleged that between June 8, 2017 and December 6, 2018, at Malolo in Nadi, Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited carried out development activity on the dry land at Wacia and the foreshore facing Wacia and also on the dry land at Qalilawa and the foreshore facing Qalilawa which is subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment process without an approved Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report.

For the charge of failure to comply with a prohibition notice, it is alleged that between June 1, 2018 and December 6, 2018, at Malolo in Nadi, Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited failed to comply with a prohibition notice issued against the company on June 1, 2018.

The state was represented by lawyer Shelyn Kiran from the Office of the DPP while Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited was represented by lawyer David Toganivalu.

Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited Project Officer Saula Sovanivalu, on behalf of the company, has entered a not guilty pleas on both charges.

The matter has been adjourned for mention on September 10.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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