REPRESENTATIONS ON CHARGES TO BE MADE
Acase involving a series of alleged fraud offences saw only one of 10 of the accused appear at the Magistrates Court in Suva. This is in the case of a group of trustees, board members and officers of the People’s Community Network (PCN). Semiti Qalowasa, Chantelle Khan, Suliana Siwatibau, Samuela Alivereti Saumatua, Mere Krishna, Vijay Naidu, Akuila Yabaki, Kevin Barr, Cama Raimuria and Aisake Casimira are charged by Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission with one count each of accepting payments without being able to supply, misleading conduct and unconscionable conduct under the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission Act 2010.
Qalowasa was the only accused person who appeared in court before Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa yesterday.
The charges:
For the offence of accepting payments without being able to supply, it is alleged that Qalowasa, Yabaki, Barr, Raimuria, Casimira, Siwatibau, Saumatua, Krishna, Khan and Naidu, being trustees, board members and officers of PCN of Lot 36 Koroi Place, Samabula, did between October 28, 2015, and January 19, 2016, accept payment in the total sum of $20,560, and failed to supply a three-bedroom unit to Virendra Kumar within reasonable time.
For the offence of misleading conduct, it is alleged that Qalowasa, Yabaki, Barr, Raimuria, Casimira, Siwatibau, Saumatua, Krishna, Khan and Naidu, being trustees, board members and officers of PCN of Lot 36 Koroi Place, Samabula, did between October 28, 2015, and January 19, 2016, engage in a conduct that was misleading by receiving $20,560, from Virendra Kumar to provide a three-bedroom unit at Lagilagi Housing Project and did not do so.
For the offence of unconscionable conduct, it is alleged that Qalowasa, Yabaki, Barr, Raimuria, Siwatibau, Saumatua, Krishna, Khan and Naidu, being trustees, board members and officers of PCN of Lot 36 Koroi Place, Samabula, did between October 28, 2015, and January 19, 2016, for the supply of Lagilagi’s Housing Unit engage in a conduct that was in all circumstances unconscionable by using unfair tactics against Virendra Kumar by issuing units to members of the public who did not qualify under the criteria for the PCN Lagilagi Housing Project.
In court yesterday, FCCC counsel told the court that Khan’s lawyer would make representations to the Commission, however, she did not receive such information.
Defence lawyer Gavin O’Driscoll told the court that he made representations to the Commission and it was received by them on June 28 at 12.19pm.
He claimed that the FCCC did not have any case against any of the accused persons in the matter, let alone his client. The matter has been adjourned to October 30.
Qalowasa lawyer: Will make representations on charges
In a separate case Semiti Qalowasa’s lawyer told the court they would make representations regarding the charges. Qalowasa, who is charged by Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission with one count of failure to furnish information, appeared before Magistrate Deepika Prakash on Thursday.
Qalowasa was national director of PCN