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The Magistrates Court in Suva will deliver its sentence on Social Democratic Liberal Party member Jale Baba later this month. Baba appeared before the Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili yesterday after he was issued with a bench warrant for no appearance on the last two occasions.
Baba is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of making a false statement.
It is alleged that between August 1, 2018 and October 15, 2018, in Suva, Baba made false statements on social media by publishing falsified voter lists and other false information related to the voter lists on Facebook, which he knew to be false. Baba admitted to the summary of facts read by FICAC counsel Adrian Sharma in court yesterday.
Baba’s counsel Filimoni Vosarogo in the mitigation said the accused had apologised to the Fijian Elections Office and public by posting an apology on social media.
He told the court the accused was genuinely remorseful of his actions. Mr Vosarogo told the court that
Baba is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of making a false statement.
along with the mitigation submissions, he had submitted two reports of Baba’s medical condition.
He told the court there was no intention of the accused to mislead any voters.
Mr Vosarogo also submitted that it was a case where a custodial sentence was not warranted. Mr Sharma had sought time to file and serve the sentencing submissions in the matter.
Chief Magistrate Ratuvili granted seven days for prosecution to file and serve the sentencing submissions.
Baba’s sentence will be delivered by the Chief Magistrate on February 28.
Bail for Baba has been further extended.