IN COURT – BRIEFLY Trial date set for ex- FNU vice chancellor Ganesh Chand

A trial date has been set for the former vice chancellor of the Fiji National University (FNU), Ganesh Chand. Chand is charged with one count of abuse of office; his trial date is set from July 16, 2018 to July 27, 2018.

It is alleged that Chand, while being employed in the public service as the Vice Chancellor of FNU, abused the authority of his office by approving the payments of overseas medical treatment for the then Minister of Education and FNU council chairman, Filipe Bole, without the approval of the council.

The matter was called yesterday before Justice Riyaaz Hamza at the High Court in Suva.

Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) prosecutor Rashmi Aslam told the court they would file further particulars on the charge voluntarily so that all parties could understand the issue of the case. Defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma stated two issues to the court; the first was for the prosecution to consider section 173 of the Constitution which argues that the administrative decision of the minister cannot be challenged by way of a criminal case. The second issue stated in court was that Minister Mahendra Reddy cannot hold any public office such as the chair of the council while being the minister. Mr Reddy was a sitting Member of Parliament from October 6, 2014, however he was acting chairman of FNU, a statutory body in December 2014 when the decision was made to release Chand from his employment contract. Chand signed the deed of release on December 24, 2014.

The letter states that a person is deemed to have vacated his seat in Parliament if he continues to hold a public office after he has been elected.

The case has been adjourned to July 28, for mention.