Chief Justice Gates dismisses FICAC's appeal against Sitiveni Rabuka

Chief Justice Anthony Gates has dismissed FICAC’s appeal against Sitiveni Rabuka and set a cost of $4,000 to be paid to Rabuka.    

The Chief Justice has just ruled that FICAC’s appeal has failed and essential elements were not proved in the case.

He also said that Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa was correct that the prosecution did not prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The Magistrates Court had earlier found Rabuka not guilty of the charges relating to the declaration of his assets and liabilities as required under the Political Parties Act.

It was alleged that Rabuka made a false declaration of 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, the investment and interest income with Raghwan Construction Limited in the amount of $200,000 and $16,000 respectively and the liability with Raghwan Construction in the amount of $120,000, contrary to the Political Parties Act.

The alleged incident occurred on the 29th of December last year.

FICAC had appealed the case after the Magistrate acquitted Rabuka.