FICAC wants to re-open case to rebut Tikoca’s evidence

FICAC has filed an application in Ratu Isoa Tikoca’s case seeking leave of the court to open its case again, only to rebut a particular piece of evidence given by Tikoca during the trial.

Tikoca is charged with failure to declare his liabilities contrary to section 24 of the Political Parties Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures Decree.

FICAC’s Senior Counsel Rashmi Aslam told Magistrate Makereta Mua today that Tikoca had said during the trial that he had directed one of his accounts staff at the Fiji High Commission in PNG to deduct a portion from his salary.

Aslam told the court that it will be only fair for the accounts officer at the Fiji High Commission in PNG, Fonua Jioji to comment on what Tikoca has said.

He further told the court that the defence is expecting the prosecution to assume that Fonua could have given this statement.

Aslam also said that this piece of evidence could not have been foreseen by prosecution as this was not raised in the caution interview or the disclosures.

Aslam also stressed that they are not calling this witness to fill any gap or prove the guilt.

Meanwhile Tikoca’s lawyer Kitione Vuetaki told the court that they have not found any case in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand where rebuttal evidence has been called regarding credibility.

Vuetaki says the prosecution knew from the beginning that Fonua was the accounts officer and she was available to prosecution.

He told the court that the prosecution could have brought this witness in.

Magistrate Mua will deliver her ruling on the 3rd of next month.

It is alleged that Tikoca failed to declare the liability and the amount of the liability to the Registrar, the Permanent Secretary responsible for Elections that he had incurred to the Government of Fiji during his tenure as Fiji’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.