FICAC, Former RFMF Finance Officer Told To Solve Their Issues
He questioned Ms Ravuikadavu as to whose authority was paramount in this case, RFMF or the court.
Friday 10 January 2025 | 05:12
Former finance officer of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Sarika Devi Raj.
Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) lawyer Lavinia Ravuikadavu and the lawyer of former finance officer of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), Sarika Devi Raj have been given more time to solve their issues about additional disclosures.
Raj appeared before Magistrate Pulekeria Low at the Suva Magistrate’s Court yesterday hoping to have the ruling on the bail variation ruling.
Raj’s lawyer Mohammed Saneem requested the court to remove the condition of her scheduled reporting time at the FICAC head office.
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It is alleged that sometimes between September 20, 2019, and June 19, 2020, on two different occasions, Raj committed an arbitrary act gaining an amount of $182,404.99.
It is alleged that she failed to declare that she is the sole proprietor of Maleka Investment, an active vendor of the RFMF which was prejudicial to the rights of the RFMF.
Mr Saneem said FICAC misled the court about a search warrant it carried out but could not necessarily provide the documents they requested as directed by the RFMF Legal director.
He questioned Ms Ravuikadavu as to whose authority was paramount in this case, RFMF or the court.
FICAC response
Ms Ravuikadavu said she did not mislead the court.
However, Mr Saneem’s request for a copy of the RFMF HR Policy, couldn’t be furnished because they only had RFMF Manuals and instructions.
Ms Ravuikadavu said she personally executed the search warrant and was advised RFMF had more than 150 manuals and instructions and needed Mr Saneem to specify which document he requested.
She said they had communicated this via a letter to Mr Saneem on December 17, 2024.
Magistrate Low said, given that they were the organisation that charged Raj, it was only proper that they ensured that necessary documents needed for their case were provided.
Mr Saneem has been given 14 days to make another application to FICAC after which FICAC will have another 14 days to serve those requested documents.
Both parties will appear again on January 23.
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