Magistrate Orders Prosecution to File Affidavits on Freesoul Case

The company denies the allegation of unauthorised developments on Malolo Island.

Magistrate Seini Puamau has ordered the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to file further affidavits indicating the powers that were placed on the environment officers. Yesterday the court held a Skype sitting, where Magistrate Puamau joined from Nadi with the Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Limited lawyer, David Toganivalu, and state lawyer, Shelyn Kiran.

Magistrate Puamau told Ms Kiran to clarify whether the two personnel were gazetted inspectors.

The company is charged with two counts of undertaking unauthorised developments and one count of failure to comply with a prohibition notice under the Environment Management Act 2005.

Freesoul is alleged to have breached assessment and failed to comply with orders given on June 1, 2018, regarding the company’s projects in Malolo, Nadroga in the Western Division.

Freesoul denies the allegation of unauthorised developments on Malolo Island in the Mamanuca Group. The court was adjourned to July 29 for mention.