MAGISTRATE Joji Boseiwaqa yesterday granted a notice of motion that was filed by the counsel of the former prime minister and SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka to adjourn Mr Rabuka’s case to a later date.
Defence counsel Filimoni Vosarogo said the defence had sought for this adjournment in order to enable Mr Rabuka to travel to Kadavu.
He said the case was initially scheduled to be called on June 15, but Mr Rabuka later found out that he was to travel to Kadavu from June 12 to June 18.
Mr Rabuka had pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday to the charges that were put against him by FICAC.
It was alleged that Mr Rabuka provided a false declaration of his assets and liabilities to the Supervisor of Elections by failing to provide information, namely the tax liability with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service in the amount of $316,956.20, the investment and interest income with Raghwan Construction Ltd in the amount of $120,000, contrary to the Political Parties Act.
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) lawyer Rashmi Aslam said they had no objection to the request that was made by the defence.
Mr Aslam also requested the defence to file their voir dire grounds by June 18 in order to keep to the initial timetable for proceedings and to give time to prosecution to file their voir dire disclosures by June 25.
Mr Rabuka will reappear in court on June 25.
