Former Telecom director Sanjay Kaba acquitted

Former Telecom Fiji Limited director Sanjay Kaba has been acquitted of a charge of obtaining a financial advantage after a court found insufficient evidence to support the allegation.

Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele upheld Kaba's no-case-to-answer application, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove key elements of the charge.

Kaba was accused by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) of using information obtained through his positions as a director of Telecom Fiji Limited and Amalgamated Telecom Holdings between 2017 and 2018 to secure a project management contract for his company, Houng Lee-Kaba Jacob Pte Limited.

FICAC alleged the company later received more than $766,000 from Telecom Fiji Limited under the contract.

However, the court found there was no evidence that Kaba used confidential information to influence or submit an expression of interest for the project.

Magistrate Ratakele noted that the expression of interest was advertised after Kaba had resigned from both boards and found the contract was awarded through a competitive procurement process involving independent evaluations and approvals.

The court also found no evidence linking Kaba's alleged actions to the financial benefit received by his company.

Magistrate Ratakele said FICAC's own evidence showed the funds were paid as a result of legally executed contractual obligations.

As a result, the court acquitted Kaba of the charge.