O'Connor, Whippy trial delayed as State prepares 38 witnesses
Court says two-week hearing insufficient for prosecution's 38 witnesses
Monday 03 August 2026 | 12:00
Carpenters Fiji managing director Daniel Whippy and former National Fire Authority Board chairman John O’Connor outside the Suva Courthouse on August 3, 2026.
Photo: Ronald Kumar
The trial of former National Fire Authority (NFA) Board chair John O'Connor and Carpenters Fiji managing director Daniel Whippy has been postponed until next year.
The State prosecution is expected to call 38 witnesses.
The pair appeared before Magistrate Sufia Hamza in the Suva Magistrate Court today, where the trial dates scheduled from November 3 to 20 this year were vacated.
Related stories
The court was advised that a special court sitting would be held in November, making the previously allocated trial dates unavailable.
Magistrate Hamza also noted that the trial was unlikely to be completed within the two-week allocation because of the large number of prosecution witnesses.
She ordered that the matter be rescheduled for next year. New trial dates have yet to be set.
O'Connor is represented by defence lawyer Vinita Devi, while Whippy is represented by Suruj Sharma. The State is represented by FICAC prosecutor Sameea Nisa.
O'Connor faces one count of abuse of office. It is alleged that between January 1 and September 28, 2018, while serving as NFA Board chair, he arbitrarily directed NFA officers to alter the findings of the April 30, 2018 fire investigation report into the April 8, 2018 fire at the MH Warehouse in Walu Bay.
The matter was adjourned to September 3, and both accused bail were extended.
