Kamikamica’s lawyer questions legitimacy of FICAC charges
Wylie Clarke questions FICAC’s authority and appointment of Commissioner in the Suva Magistrate Court.
Tuesday 21 October 2025 | 22:00
Lawyer Wylie Clarke, representing former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, outside the Suva Magistrate Court on October 22, 2025.
Photo: Talei Roko
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has until tomorrow to meet with former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica’s lawyer to discuss his charges before the matter is taken to the High Court in Suva.
The defence lawyer, Wylie Clarke, raised the issue before Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele today.
His client, Kamikamica, did not appear in court as he is still overseas on official duties.
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Kamikamica is charged with one count of perjury and one count of falsifying information to a public servant.
It is alleged that between December 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, in Suva, he knowingly made a false statement under oath, claiming he had no involvement in the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner.
In the alternative, he faces one count of giving false information to a public servant, contrary to Section 201(a) of the Crimes Act 2009, for allegedly providing the same false information to the Commissioner of Inquiry (COI).
During the proceedings, Mr Clarke told the court that the charges against his client were defective, questioning the legitimacy of FICAC Commissioner Lavi Rokoika’s appointment.
He argued that Ms Rokoika’s appointment was flawed, and therefore she did not have the authority to lay charges against Kamikamica.
Mr Clarke said Ms Rokoika has until tomorrow to meet with them to discuss the case outside of court. He added that if she fails to do so, they will file an application before the High Court in Suva seeking a stay of proceedings at the lower court, so the matter can be addressed there first.
He said FICAC’s charge against his client was vague, imprecise, and unsupported, adding that the timeframe of the alleged offence was too broad and lacked context.
Mr Clarke also argued that the caution interviews, which relate to text messages, did not meet the threshold required for the charges and therefore needed to be discussed.
FICAC prosecutor Lilian Mausio responded to Mr Clarke, saying that this was not the appropriate forum to raise those issues, and that he should instead file the necessary application at the High Court.
The matter was then adjourned to Friday at 2.30pm for Kamikamica’s bail hearing.
