Lautoka lawyer Iqbal Khan has questioned the need for separate anti-corruption divisions at the Magistrates and High Courts respectively.

This was his submission at the public consultation on the review of the establishment of the anticorruption division at the Magistrates Court and the High Court of Fiji on Thursday at the Lautoka City Council chambers.

“Why should we have selective judges or magistrates to hear the corruption cases?” Mr Khan said.

“For how many years the learned magistrates and learned judges were handling all these cases.

“I think there is no point in having a separate court system, that’s my view.

“Prior to this act, the judges and magistrates were handling all the corruption matters. It’s rather sad that a judge can hear a murder case, but he can’t hear a corruption case,” he said.

“I’m saying we should abolish this, go back to the original version, and have faith in judges and magistrates who have been doing this since the Penal Code came into existence.”

The Office of the Attorney-General senior legal officer, Sophina Ali, said the issue for consideration was whether there was a need to have a specialised court to hear corruption cases.

However, Mr Khan’s submission was noted.

Story by: salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj