Dakuidreketi was not a public servant - lawyer

The Vanua Development Cooperation Limited is not a public service entity but it is a private company.

While presenting his lengthy closing submission in the case of former NLTB board member, Keni Dakuidreketi, Defence Counsel, Brian Keen told the assessors that the former chairman of Vanua Development Cooperation, Keni Dakuidreketi is an officer of a private company and not a public servant in this case.

He said this is a very old case and none of the witnesses have a clear recollection of what happened ten years ago.

He said the witnesses relied on documents and the question needs to be asked whether his client, Dakuidreketi had a bad motive when he did what he did.

Dakuidreketi is facing five counts of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Dakuidreketi between 31st March 2004 and 21st September 2004, while being employed as a member of NLTB and Chairman of Vanua Development Corporation, in abuse of the authority of his office, did an arbitrary act for the purpose of gain, by facilitating a loan of $2 million to be made by Vanua Development Corporation to Pacific Connex, which was prejudicial to the NLTB and indigenous Fijians.

The second count relates to Dakuidreketi allegedly facilitating a loan of $900,000 to be made by Vanua Development Corporation to Pacific Connex between the 16th and the 29th of November 2004.

The third count said that Dakuidreketi between about 28th February 2005 to 28th April 2005 allegedly facilitated a government grant of $1 million disbursed to Vanua Development Corporation through the NLTB to be used as security for a loan to Pacific Connex Limited by Dominion Finance.

For the fourth count it is alleged that Dakuidreketi again between 27th April 2005 to 3rd July 2007 while being employed as a member of NLTB and Chairman of Vanua Development Corporation facilitated a government grant of $1 million disbursed to Vanua Development Corporation through the NLTB to be used as security for overdraft and loan facilities provided to Pacific Connex, by ANZ Bank.

It is also alleged that Dakuidreketi between 23rd September 2005 and 29th September 2005 facilitated a loan of $1 million to be made by the Vanua Development Corporation to Pacific Connex, which was prejudicial to the NLTB and the indigenous Fijians.

Vanua Development Corporation was set up as an investment arm of NLTB which included the involvement of Dakuidreketi while Pacific Connex was an IT company set up by Ballu Khan.

Dakuidreketi was a board member of Pacific Connex Limited.