Court sets June 1 hearing for PM’s stay application

A date has now been fixed for the court to hear Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s application to put on hold the legal effect of a recent High Court ruling involving former Anti-corruption Commissioner, Barbara Malimali.

The matter came before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere at the High Court in Suva today, where the court set June 1 as the date to hear the stay application.

Justice Tuiqereqere is the same judge who delivered the February 2 ruling that the Prime Minister is now seeking to pause.

This followed a brief court update to confirm whether all required documents had been filed.

The Prime Minister, who is pursuing the appeal in his personal capacity, was represented by lawyer Kevin Skiba of Valenitabua & Associates.

Lawyer Samuela Savu appeared for Ms Malimali.

During the proceedings, the court was told that there had been no response from key state offices.

Mr Skiba informed the court that no reply affidavits had been filed by either the Attorney-General’s Office or the Office of the President in response to Ms Malimali’s affidavit opposing the stay application.

The court also set deadlines ahead of the June hearing.

Mr Skiba and other parties have until May 22 to file their written submissions.

In response, Mr Savu has been given until May 28 to file an affidavit.