FICAC needs to prove that SODELPA was a registered party on 29th December 2017 - Vosarogo

SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka’s lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo says FICAC needs to prove that SODELPA was a registered party on 29th December 2017.

While making the oral submission for the defence in the High Court, Vosarogo said the Registrar of Political parties must have maintained a register of political parties.

He said the onus was on the prosecution to provide evidence that SODELPA was registered.

Vosarogo said in New Zealand, the register is available on the website and it tells you what party is registered and when the party was registered.

He said the defence wanted a page saying that SODELPA was a registered party on a particular date.

Vosarogo said it is the register of political parties that will tell the Registrar of Political Parties if SODELPA is registered.

Rabuka was earlier found 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 then appealed the case.

The defence is continuing its submission before Chief Justice Anthony Gates this hour.