Different agencies took the stand at the Anti-Corruption High Court confirming Niko Nawaikula’s Koronivia residential address.

The SODELPA Member of Parliament was charged with obtaining travel and accommodation allowances amounting to $20,201.35 between August 2019 and April 2020.

He was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count each of giving false information to a public servant and of obtaining financial advantage.

By allegedly falsely stating that his permanent place of residence was in Buca Village, Buca Bay, Nawaikula allegedly breached the Parliamentary Remuneration Act of 2014. And he was not entitled to claim travel and accommodation allowances.

The allegations were brought by the former secretary-general to parliament, Viniana Namosimalua.

Witnesses

Yesterday prosecution witness Mesake Dawai who was the acting manager legal for the Fijian Elections Office(FEO), confirmed that Nawaikula in his statutory declaration to FEO stated his address as 15 Kilometres, Kings Road, Koronivia in Nausori.

He told the court that Nawaikula with his wife Miliakere owned a property valued at $300,000.

Responding to defence lawyer, Sevuloni Valenitabua during cross examination, Mr Dawai said Nawaikula had changed his address on December 2, 2021 to Buca Bay in Natewa in Vanua Levu.

He said Nawaikula was required by law to submit the changed information and details to the FEO within three months.

He also testified that the form for changing address was not provided to FICAC in 2021.

Another witness Jaswin Kumar, who was the operation officer at FEO told the court that Nawaikula’s data for voter registration contained his Koronivia address.

He said that Nawaikula’s address from the last entry dated March 31, 2014, was Kings Road, Koronivia, Nausori and the same for his polling venue.

Another prosecution witness, who was a senior secretary for the Legal Practitioners Unit, told the court that Nawaikula’s law practicing licence states his address as 15 KM, King’s Road in Koronivia, Nausori.

Eleanoa Waqaitarewa testified in court, stating that Nawaikula made statutory declarations in his practicing certificates, that his residential address was of Koronivia, Nausori.

She told the court that Nawaikula’s usual place for business was Kadavu House, Victoria Parade in Suva while the LPU had his residential address as 15 KM Kings Road, Koronivia, in Nausori.

She also told the court that between 2018 and 2019, there were no other branches listed under Nawaikula’s law firm.

She told the court that from the period of March 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021 for renewal of the practicing certificate, Nawaikula had written to the Chief Registrar stating he had another branch of Nawaikula Esquire in Savusavu and the practitioner was Pauliasi Nawaikula.

She confirmed to the court that Nawaikula had not mentioned at all of the change of his residential address which was printed on the practicing licence.

She said every practitioner had to notify the LPU of change of addresses and information, however, no such notice was given by Nawaikula.

Energy Fiji Limited credit controller Sharon Ali told the court that Nawaikula’s address was Kings Road, 10 Miles, Koronivia in Nausori as per the records.

She said the meter account was under Miliakere Nawaikula, however, she could not confirm who the occupants of the address were

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