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A Fiji High Court has allowed defence lawyers time to study what they said was the addition of ‘surprise’ fresh charges in the fraud trial of former Native Land Trust Board (NLTB) member Keni Dakuidreketi, former general manager Kalivati Bakani and official Alanieta Vakatale.
The trio is charged with conspiring to defraud the NLTB of close to $4 million.
Bakani’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma immediately raised his concerns when the court clerk began reading the charges in the High Court in Suva today.
Sharma asked judge, Justice Paul Madigan for an adjournment, saying some of the charges read out were new.
He said the defence team needed time to study disclosures by lawyers from the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, which has brought the charges against the three.
Sharma said it would be prejudicial for the defendants to take a plea today.
Vakatale's lawyer, Josaia Waqaivolavola and Dakuidreketi's lawyer, Wylie Clark also raised concerns about the new charges.
Justice Madigan agreed with the defence and adjourned the case to November 17.
The defendants are charged with three counts, including conspiracy to defraud the NLTB, fraudulent conversion and abuse of office, between March 31, 2004 and November 10, 2005.
FICAC alleges that Dakuidreketi, Bakani and Vakatale caused the payment of NLTB funds “to support a defunct information technology system called mySAP”.
