FICAC to serve additional documents in Ganesh Chand's case

The defense counsel of former Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University Dr Ganesh Chand has asked the FICAC Counsel, Joseph Work to provide further documents regarding the two letters that were served to the FICAC Counsel.

Work did not object to this and the case has been adjourned to 6th November to check on the prosecution serving the additional documents.

Meanwhile, the defense Counsel, has confirmed receiving the response from the prosecution on the two letters.

In the letter the Defense counsel has asked the prosecution to consider whether the court has powers to hear Chand’s case.

The defense counsel says that the directive that was given to Chand to process the payment of medical expenses of the then Education Minister, Filipe Bole came from a letter written by Bole on a ministerial letterhead and signed by him as the Minister of Education and Bole had directed FNU and Chand to take care of his medical cost overseas.

The counsel says that under the 2013 constitution, no directive or decision made by the Minister between 5th December, 2006 to 6th October, 2014 can be challenged in any court.

Another issue brought up is whether a person can hold two public offices.

The defense counsel says this particular issue is directed to Dr. Mahendra Reddy who was appointed as a Minister but continued to hold the position of the Chairman of the FNU Council.