Mistrial application dismissed in health tender case

The State Prosecutions’ application for a mistrial in the health tender case against three former high officials has been dismissed.

In this case, former Health Minister Neil Sharma, former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum have all been charged with abuse of office after allegedly ordering the waiving of tender processes CT 66/2011 and CT 153/2011 to favour Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd, also known as Hospineer.

Justice Usaia Ratuvili delivered his ruling this morning, stating that the circumstances raised during proceedings did not meet the high threshold required to halt the trial.

The trial will resume next Tuesday and is expected to continue during the weekends.

More in the Fiji Sun’s weekender paper.