Duo On Fraud Charges
Former National Fire Authority (NFA) chief executive officer John O’Connor and Carpenters Fiji Limited’s David Whippy appeared before Magistrate Krishan Prasad.
Saturday 24 February 2024 | 22:59
Fiji Limited managing director Daniel Whippy (left) and former National Fire Authority (NFA) chief executive officer John O’Connor outside the Suva Magistrate’s Court on February 23, 2024. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Two top executives appeared at the Suva Magistrate’s Court on Friday on allegations of amending a warehouse fire report for the purpose
of gain.
Former National Fire Authority (NFA) chief executive officer John O’Connor and Carpenters Fiji Limited’s Whippy appeared before Magistrate Krishan Prasad.
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They were bailed on a $10,000 noncash bail bond.
Charges O’Connor was charged with one count of abuse of office for gain while Whippy was charged with one count of counselling the commission of the offense.
Both charges were contrary to Section 45 read together with Section 139 of the Crimes Act of 2009.
It was heard in court that between January 1 and September 28, 2018, in Suva, O’Connor, while being employed as the chair of the NFA board, directed his officers to amend the findings on the Fire Investigation Report which occured on April 8, 2018, at the Morris Hedstrom warehouse located at Walu Bay for the purpose of gain.
Whippy, while holding the role of director of W R Carpenters (South Pacific) PTE Limited during the same period, allegedly counselled O’Connor for the commissioning of the same offense.
Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) lawyer, Florence Takinana, did not object to bail but asked the court to release the
two under strict conditions.
The bail included bonding the two accused persons and both sureties with a $10,000 non-cash bail bond and to maintain their fixed residence during the duration of the court proceedings.
The duo were ordered to make a formal application with FICAC should there be a need for them to travel outside of Fiji.
FICAC assistant lawyer, Sera Fatafei told the court, should the application be deemed genuine, only then will FICAC allow the travel.
O’Connor is represented by Lajendra Lawyers legal practioner, Roylesh Nand while Whippy is represented by Patel Sharma Lawyer’s principal legal practitioner, Suruj Sharma.
Ms Fatafei informed the court the duo were to provide two sureties, who did not include any business associate and would be deemed conflict of interest.
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