A TAXIDRIVER has denied three counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception when he appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.
Simiti Cakau, 42, appeared before Magistrate Sufia Hamza with his lawyer Akuila Naco.
For the first count, it is alleged that on August 10 last year about 10pm at Benau St in Vatuwaqa, 54-year-old Vani Boteanakadavu of Nanuku settlement gave $1800 to Mr Cakau.
The accused was the driver of the taxi which belonged to Ms Boteanakadavu.
The money was for the repair costs of her taxi.
However, the court heard that Mr Cakau failed to produce the receipt as proof of where he was alleged to have used the money.
The court was further told that on August 17, Ms Boteanakadavu had also given $600 for the base fee and third party fee.
The court also heard that on the third occasion, on August 22, last year the complainant also gave $300 cash to her taxidriver for the payment of the taxi's wheel tax.
However, the accused is alleged to have not produced the three receipts for the three payments made and no facts to prove that he had paid the given amount.
The court heard defence disputed the caution interview for the verification of the amount.
Defence claimed that the police did not give the accused enough time to verify the amount that he was allegedly given.
Police prosecutor Corporal Luke Qerewaqa said the accused failed to produce receipts for those payments.
Mr Cakau's bail was extended to February 8 for the submission of voir dire.