MORNING AND AFTERNOON UPDATES OF THE PROCEEDINGS FROM FIJI VILLAGE:
The most high profile legal case in Fiji since that of George Speight is underway in the High Court in Suva – the long awaited corruption trial of deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase. Right up until the last minute, Qarase’s lawyers had been trying to get the proceedings deferred on the grounds that he wasn’t able to find an affordable senior counsel from overseas to represent him. But Sri Lankan born judge, Justice Priyantha Fernando, ruled that Qarase had ample time to get proper representation and ordered that the trial proceed as scheduled. It’s been set down for four weeks.
The charges relate to Fijian Holdings – a major corporate player in the country that is owned by several layers of the i’taukei establishment and was originally set up to bolster the economic prospects of indigenous people. It involves allegations over share dealings when Qarase was a director of Fijian Holdings. He denies six counts of abuse of office and three counts of discharge of duty with respect to a property in which he has a private interest.
The case has been brought by FICAC, the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption, which engaged two prosecuting barristers from Hong Kong – senior counsel Michael Blanchflower and assistant Elizabeth Yang. Blanchflower is a heavy hitter at the Hong Kong bar, a former Assistant Solicitor General, Justice Department lawyer and a specialist in money laundering who drafted HK’s anti-money laundering laws. When he arrived in the country last week, Blanchflower reduced the number of witnesses for the prosecution from 14 to 10 and the number of documents from more than 100 to around 68. He said it would make the case “leaner” and better focused on the main issues.
Up against them is the Suva barrister, Tupou Draunidalo, who was drafted in at the eleventh hour after Qarase said he was unable to find an affordable senior counsel in Australia or New Zealand willing to represent him. His lawyers unsuccessfully argued that they needed more time to get across the detail of the case and would have been furiously burning the midnight oil trying to get up to speed.
A senior figure in legal circles, Drainidalo is a forthright human rights advocate and political activist who strongly condemned Frank Bainimarama’s 2006 coup. She was arrested and interrogated by the military for allegedly inciting the public to oppose the government but was never charged. Drainidalo is also celebrated for being the daughter of the late chief and deputy prime mininster, Adi Kuini Speed, and step-daughter of Timoci Bavadra, the Labour prime minister deposed by Sitiveni Rabuka in 1987. Her father, the late Savenaca Draunidalo, served as one of Laisenia Qarase’s cabinet ministers until he too was deposed in the coup of 2006. A former colonel in the military, he was killed in a fishing accident the following year.
So a Sri Lankan judge, a Hong Kong senior counsel for the prosecution and a respected and feisty local barrister for the defence. A compelling drama is being played out in the Suva High Court.
DAY ONE:
AM: Read the latest on the morning’s proceedings from Fiji Village.
PM: : Read the latest on the afternoon proceedings from Fiji Village.
DAY TWO:
AM: Read the latest on the morning’s proceedings from Fiji Village.
PM: Read the latest on the afternoon’s proceedings from Fiji Village.
DAY THREE:
AM: Read the latest on the morning’s proceedings from Fiji Village.
PM: Read the latest on the afternoon’s proceedings from Fiji Village.
DAY FOUR: (WE HAVE SWITCHED TO THE FIJI SUN BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS WARNINGS AT FIJI VILLAGE)
Will Frank’s Regime accept the Verdict once Mr.Qarase is found not guilty and what will the ramifications be for the Regime when all Fijians know this was a witch hunt by Aiyaz and his supporters ?
Mark, I could equally pose a question to you. Will Qarase’s supporters accept the verdict if it’s one of guilty? In the interests of ensuring a fair trial, don’t you think we should wait for a verdict before using descriptions like “witch hunt”? Or are you suggesting that Qarase should be acquitted whatever the evidence presented in court?
Oh Jeez, I’ll try to be generous with you this time….
Wart if…wart will…wart then…. wart who????? OMG…it is the wart that keeps on appearing.
How about we let the trial take its course and not be like the Free Journalist and make presumptions on the outcomes…well I think I have been generous on you…..
Let the court do its job.
Manning
if Qarase is found not guilty Bainimarama cannot do anything about it so he is a free man and can stand for elections, but if the decision goes the other way what will your cronies in Aussie say.
Mark Manning
We shall let the courts decide on his innocence or guilt. If he wins the case you will jump for joy and declare the judiciary in Fiji fair and just, if he loses it will be because of the corruption of the regime and the judiciary. However one thing is certain, he has been given ample time to find representation (over 8 months) more time than any other citizen would be given.
Let us sit back and watch and hold our tongues until the final hammer falls.
mark manning
Dont bother about qarases court case it has nothing to do with you or your family, if you are really concerned about democracy, direct your energy to Syria because right now they need democracy activists like you.
A man stands accused by the Bainemarama regime of benefitting financially from illegal activities – thank God Irony isn’t on trial, it would be a forgone conclusion.
For some it’s irony and for some its Robin Hood….
@ Cin Cin
To the Victors go the spoils!
Havent you heard of that saying?
That explains why Speight and co are now advancing their education at Naboro. Lai Q is about to join them to be in closer contact with his SDL patron, the Qaranivalu.
If what qarase had done had happened here in the US he would be in the slammer by now.
If what Bainimarama had done had happened in the US he would be:
1- Hanging from a noose
or
2- Enjoying a lethal injection
or
3- Sizzling in an electric chair
or
4- Enjoying a tropical lifestyle in Guantanamo Bay for the rest of his life.
All depending on where he committed TREASON
If what rabuka had done had happened in the US he would be:
1. Enjoying uncle Sam’s 6 star hotel or below 6 ft. because of treason
2. The great council of Thief’s or sorry chiefs members would have been uncle sams guest
3. The so called religious Methodist church officials would be next door to the chiefs rooms at uncle sams 6 star hotel
4. The whole gang from taniela veitata and company would have had the premier rooms in the same hotel.
5. The shadowy figures and double faced businemans would be doing business in Uncle Sam’s hotel selling something, may be soap, may be flesh or etc.
And finally Bavadras democratically elected government would be back in power and FB would have retired doing his job in the navy
Guys let the law takes it course.
Can I make a general appeal here to both Laisenia’s Qarase’s traditional supporters and opponents? Let’s allow these proceedings take their course by not making pronouncements that assume guilt or innocence. I’d venture to say that we all want justice to be done, whatever we think.
In any event, If anyone crosses the line legally, I’m bound to remove their comment. Vinaka.
@Graham
Well now we just have to wait for the next trial of the decade – Bainimarama on trial for fraudulent leave claims. That should be a good one.
Who will ever thought that one day will happen in Fiji,where all the top brass will be tried and sent to prison for corruption,never in the history of Fiji,so now I believe it is time for all up coming leaders to know that no one is above the law.
Yeah when is Frank Bainimarama’s court case for treason? Frank should be in the same jail as George Speight.
Petelo and “Tuilaepa”, you have both made comments that are in contempt of the proceedings. You cannot prejudge the verdict or call the integrity of the process into question. This site is read in Fiji and I have the same obligation to obey the law as any other local media outlet.
If this continues, I will remove your ability to leave comments on Grubsheet altogether. And that goes for anyone else who ignores the legal obligation to ensure a fair trial.
How is my comment pre-judging the trial of Qarase? I didn’t say anything about Qarase or the other parties in that trial.
Petelo, you cannot use the word “kangaroo” in the context you did without being in contempt of the proceedings. You should know that.
JUNTA JUNTA JUNTA DICTATOR DICTATOR DICTATOR COUP COUP COUP KANGAROO COURT KANGAROO COURT KANGAROO COURT
@Gram
yes lets not jump into conclusion,lets wait for the court to decide.
Sai, having said that we should all wait for a conclusion, you then proceed to prejudge the outcome. That comment has been deleted.
NOTE: ANY COMMENT THAT IS PREJUDICIAL TO THE OUTCOME OF THIS CASE WILL BE DELETED. THEY ARE IN CONTEMPT OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
Hi guys cool it man, I know you’re all fired up…patience is the price of survival. Petelo is around, the keeper of Terry’s Medula Oblongata….scratch..scratch
Chand, you’re the keeper of Graham’s mangal sutra.
It’s Fijians who are on trial !
@ mark manning
Why should you, as an Aussie, care?
Its none of your business.
Shouldnt you be caring more for your own indigenous population there in Oz?
They are, after all, dispossesed and in deeper shit than we in Fiji.
Yet Oz uses the megaphone to tell us what we do, when her own aboriginal population is up shit street.
Talk about duplicity
Petelo
Shut up and dont comment. No Samoan is on trial there.
Satish, he has not done anything, it’s alleged. Comment deleted.
Seru
Iindividual Fijians like you and me are still poor while these fat cats and their families prosper.The day of reckoning is near.
Terry Tavita, you really are an immature, pathetic oaf. One more comment from you like the last one – a blatant case of contempt – and you will be banned from this website permanently.
I don’t screen comments here – unlike Coup 4.5 and some other places – because I think I’m dealing with adults. I want Laisenia Qarase to get a fair trial, whatever I think about his politics.
You have your own newspaper in Samoa so go on, repeat what you said here in those columns. Bet you don’t have the guts.
The same goes for Cin Cin and anyone else who thinks I’m kidding when I again say – POST ANYTHING HERE THAT IS IN CONTEMPT OF THIS COURT CASE – THAT PREJUDGES THE OUTCOME OR ATTACKS THE JUDICIARY – AND YOU WILL BE PERMANENTLY BANNED FROM THIS SITE. YOUR EXILE IS ONE CLICK AWAY.
fark you fat stupid uneducated palagi lard and kiss my ass..I’m helping you idiot lest you forget you have a REGIME REGIME REGIME COUP COUP COUP DICTATOR DICTATOR DICTATOR KANGAROO COURT KANGAROO COURT KANGAROO COURT in Fiji..aint nobody buying your bs..
Terry, enjoy reading your last contribution to Grubsheet. I will not have racist, foul mouthed oafs who are in contempt of Fiji’s legal system on this site.
Thank you for the chronological link to the trial, Graham
At the outset, I personally sad for what is now happening to Lai. The same goes to former FNPF CEO, Olota. Such twist of events no one ever dream would ever occur at least in Fiji. I have a profound sympathy for them and many who will follow. But as we all know, we are not in control of time and the future. Someone else has. However, my message is, things occur for a purpose. Whether good or bad purpose, it all depends on how we perceive them. For my perception, it is good lesson for our future leaders who wish to enter the seat leadership in Fiji, come 2014 election and beyond. The lesson is when you’re chosen as a leader, you’re not there to serve your self or family etc. You’re chosen not by the people, but by our LORD God to serve the people and their best interests. Second good purpose, it a lesson for all leaders especially in public arena to be truthful, loyal, honest, passionate, committed, fair and just in your leadership. Leadership is making a difference in the lives of the people, individuals, families, villages, communities, nation and especially children. Leadership is not about protecting your own dynasty, positions or powers etc but protecting the live of others whom you are called to serve. Leadership is about inspiring others to aspire a better purpose, goal or vision in life. Leadership is about inspiring others to be better, productive and discipline citizens for the nation. These kinds of good and visionary leaders makes better Fiji for tomorrow. Lastly, the third good lesson, what ever you sowed, you will reap whether in private or in public, whether good or bad. If you reap good, expect to reap good. If you sow bad, even if you don’t expect, you will surely reap bad fruits. It is only a matter of time. This laws stand for ever and no one can run away from it. This law governs everyone on earth, Presidents or Prime Minsters are no exceptions. LEADERS LEARN THE LESSON. SERVE OTHERS AND LET OTHERS SERVE YOU. DO NOT SERVE YOURSELF. PROTECT OTHERS AND LET OTHERS PROTECT YOU. DO NOT PROTECT YOURSELF.
Our apologies to readers expecting the usual AM and PM updates on the Qarase trial from Fiji Village. Google is warning of a “Malware” attack that has corrupted Fiji Village. It simply isn’t prudent for third parties like Grubsheet to proceed with opening any link if we want to protect ourselves from cyber-attack.