Journalists subpoenaed in Kamikamica, Prasad stay hearing

Two journalists have been subpoenaed as witnesses in the hearing of stay applications filed by former deputy prime ministers Manoa Kamikamica and Biman Prasad.

Kamikamica’s lawyer Wylie Clarke revealed this in the High Court in Suva yesterday while addressing pre-hearing matters.

Mr Clarke said Mai TV journalist Lavenia Lativerata and The Fiji Times journalist Jake Wise had already been subpoenaed. He also sought to have both matters heard together, without consolidating them.

Counsel for Prasad Devenesh Naidu told the court that both matters raised a similar issue, challenging the appointment of the current acting Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption commissioner, Lavi Rokoika.

Mr Naidu said hearing the matters together would save court time, as evidence given by witnesses in Kamikamica’s case could also be noted in Prasad’s case.

FICAC lawyers Josann Pene and Joseph Work, who appeared in both matters, objected to the proposal, arguing that the cases were filed separately and should be treated as such.

Mr Work told the court the applications sought remedies and other orders, and submitted that the applicants should first apply to consolidate the matters.

Mr Clarke also sought an additional two days to file submissions and affidavits.

After deliberations, and with no further objections from FICAC, the court granted the applicants’ request for the matters to be heard together. The court also directed FICAC to specify the law and case authorities it intended to rely on.

The matter has been adjourned to March 18 for mention to address any remaining pre-hearing issues before the substantive hearing proceeds.