Fire report case against Whippy, O’Connor moves to trial

The long-running case involving former National Fire Authority (NFA) board chair John O’Connor and Carpenters Fiji Limited managing director Daniel Whippy will now proceed to trial, with dates set for November 2026.

The Suva Magistrates Court has scheduled the trial to run from November 3 to November 20, marking the next major phase in the matter linked to the alleged alteration of an official fire investigation report.

Mr Whippy appeared before Magistrate Sufia Hamza yesterday with his lawyer, Suruj Sharma, on a bail variation application. The State raised no objection.

Magistrate Hamza approved Mr Whippy’s request to travel to India for medical treatment from March 1 to March 6. However, the stop departure order has been lifted only temporarily, and Mr Whippy has been ordered to surrender his passport to the Criminal Court Registry by March 9.

The court also confirmed that Mr Whippy’s $50,000 cash bail bond, paid during an earlier bail variation application, will remain with the registry.

Mr Whippy’s bail has been extended, and the court ruled there will be no further mention dates, with the matter now moving directly to trial.

Mr O’Connor faces one count of abuse of office, while Mr Whippy is charged with one count of counselling the omission of an offence.

The charges relate to allegations that between January 1 and September 28, 2018, Mr O’Connor, while serving as NFA board chair, abused his authority by directing NFA officers to amend the findings of a fire investigation report dated April 30, 2018.

The report relates to a fire at the MH Warehouse in Walu Bay on April 8, 2018.

Both accused remain on bail as they prepare to face trial.