Rasova granted travel clearance to attend campaign school in Australia

Social Democratic Liberal Party general secretary Simione Rasova has been granted court approval to travel to Canberra, Australia, to attend a Liberal Party Campaign Summer School.

Rasova appeared before Resident Magistrate Pulekeria Low at the Juvenile Centre in Suva yesterday with his lawyer Tomasi Tuitoga.

He is charged with falsely stating that his permanent residence was Nasenivolau, Nabouwalu village, Ono, Kadavu, and with obtaining $21,350 between July 2019 and April 2020.

The court was satisfied that Rasova would return in time for his no-case-to-answer ruling, which is scheduled for February 9, noting that he has never breached his bail conditions.

Magistrate Low said the court was satisfied with Rasova’s affidavit, proof of travel arrangements and the invitation from an Australian political party to attend the Campaign Summer School and international programme, which was relevant to his current employment.

She noted that Rasova had consistently attended court, including on occasions when matters were adjourned, and had complied with bail conditions during previous overseas travel in 2023 and 2025 for similar reasons.

The magistrate ruled that the public interest arguments raised by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) did not outweigh the factors supporting the application.

Rasova’s passport was released yesterday following the ruling, and his stop departure order was lifted.

He is expected to travel today and return on February 4.

The court ordered that his passport be returned to the Suva Criminal Court Registry on or before February 9. The stop departure order will be reinstated on February 6.

FICAC has one month to appeal the ruling.