Former commission head pleads not guilty to abuse of office

The former chief executive of the Fiji Commerce Commission (FCC) yesterday pleaded not guilty to one count of abuse of office at the Suva Magistrates Court.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) charged Bobby Maharaj in 2016.

Maharaj appeared before Magistrate Joji Boseiwaqa represented by defense counsel Jitendra Reddy.

The matter has now been adjourned to July 12 for mention. FICAC State Counsel, Sera Fatafehi, appeared for the prosecution.

Bail has been extended. Background: It is alleged that the accused while being employed by the FCC in abuse of authority directed an employee of the FCC, without conducting an inspection to fill in false information to indicate an inspection was conducted of a trader and a verbal warning was issued against the trader for breaches under the Commerce Commission Decree. This was prejudicial to the rights of the FCC and the trader. The Ministry of Industry and Trade referred the complaint to FICAC.