Rabuka Closing Submission Hearing Today
The closing submission hearing for the case against Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Sitiveni Rabuka will be heard at the Suva Magistrates Court today.
Rabuka appeared before Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa yesterday. He is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for allegedly providing a false declaration of assets, income and liabilities under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and disclosures) Act of 2013 and breach of bail conditions. The closing submission hearing was adjourned to today after the prosecution asked for more time to hand in their closing submission to the defence.
FICAC is represented by lawyers Sam Savumiramira and Rashmi Aslam.
Rabuka is represented by Filimoni Vosarogo, Queen’s Counsel, Ian Lloyd and Lynda Tabuya. Mr Vosarogo did not object to FICAC’s request for adjournment. He told the court that they had provided their closing submission by yesterday afternoon to allow QC Lloyd, to prepare a response to the same. On the first charge, Rabuka is charged with one count of providing false declaration of assets, income and liabilities under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and disclosures) Act of 2013.
In 2017, Rabuka is alleged to have provided a false declaration of assets and liabilities to the Supervisor of Elections by failing to provide information pertaining to his tax liability with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services (FRCS) which amounted to $316,956.20.
He also allegedly failed to declare the investment and interest income with Ragwhan Construction Limited in the amount of $200,000 and $16,000 respectively and also his liability in the amount of $120,000.
On the second charge, Rabuka is charged with one count of breach of bail conditions.
He is alleged to have approached and interfered with a witness connected with his first charge, which was a condition not to do imposed by the court while granting him bail.
Edited by Caroline Ratucadra