Bhika discharged after FICAC discontinues case
Former Suncourt Hardware director Dhansukh Bhika was discharged yesterday after a nolle prosequi was filed by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC).
He was also given immunity.
Bhika was charged with one count each of aiding and abetting abuse of office and obtaining a financial advantage.
He appeared before Suva High Court Judge Justice Riyaaz Hamza.
It was alleged that between July 11, 2013 and December 27, 2014 while being the manager of Naboro Mart Limited, Bhika engaged in a conduct namely supplying goods to the Fiji Corrections Service despite not being an approved supplier or a contractor to the Government.
As a result of that conduct he allegedly obtained a financial advantage amounting to $186,417 for the mart with knowledge that the mart was not eligible to receive the financial advantage.
He was charged with former Prisons Commissioner Ifereimi Vasu and former Director of Corporate Services Peniasi Kunatuba. They all pleaded not guilty when the case was first called.
Between July 11, 2013 and December 27, 2014, Vasu who was also the Director of Naboro Mart Limited allegedly facilitated and approved the purchase of goods amounting to $131,683.33 from the mart. Kunatuba is alleged to have also facilitated and approved the purchase of goods from the mart amounting to $54,734.65, between January 31, 2013 to March 7, 2014.
The acts are contrary to the Procurement Regulations 2010, the Financial Management Act 2004, and the Finance Manual of the Fiji Corrections Service which were acts prejudicial to the rights of the Fijian government, the Fiji Corrections Service and the approved Government contractors. Meanwhile, FICAC Prosecutor Rashmi Aslam, informed the court that they were filing Bhika’s statement along with the letter of immunity.
He also said that the Prosecution will be relying on Vasu and Kunatuba’s caution interview during their trial.
He requested Defence counsel to reveal if there were any voir dire grounds or any issues with the admissibility of the interviews before a hearing date is fixed.
Vasu’s lawyer Babu Singh said he would inform the court if they were challenging the caution interview. Furthernore, Bhika’s lawyer Ritesh Singh requested the court if his client’s passport could be released from the court registry and the stop departure order against him be uplifted. Justice Hamza agreed and made the order accordingly. The case against Vasu and Kunatuba has been adjourned to November 6, 2017 at 9:30am for a hearing date to be set and to finalise agreed documents in relation to Kunatuba’s case.