Duo plead not guilty to corruption charges

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Photo: 123RF

Ba Provincial Council CEO Isimeli Bose and works and projects manager Rakesh Prasad pleaded not guilty to corruption-related charges before the Anti-Corruption Court in Suva last Friday.

They were both were represented by Lautoka human rights lawyer Aman Ravindra-Singh.

The duo were charged alongside Fiji National University former acting manager works and projects Mohammed Lateef.

They appeared before magistrate Jeremaia Savou charged with separate counts of corrupt transactions with agents.

Mr Ravindra-Singh raised concerns in court on the lack of disclosures provided after FICAC provided the first phase of disclosures in court.

He told the court the only disclosures served were the interviews of his clients and no other statements which made out the charges and cases against his clients.

He said the statements of the complainant were not provided and that an accused person had the right to know their accuser.

Mr Ravindra-Singh told the court his clients would return to Lautoka not knowing who their accusers were nor the evidence the prosecution case was based upon.

He also said his two clients maintained their innocence.

FICAC senior State counsel Sam Savumiramira told the court the first phase of disclosures had been served and FICAC was given 21 days to file second phase disclosures.

The matter has been adjourned to January 10, 2022, to check on service of the second phase of disclosures.

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