Final FICAC witness in Tikoca’s case reveals money was transferred from PNG to Brisbane

The final prosecution witness in Ratu Isoa Tikoca’s case has told the Suva Magistrates Court that he received sourced documents showing that there was money transferred from the bank account of the Fiji High Commission in PNG to St Joseph’s Nangi College in Brisbane, Australia.

FICAC Team Leader Investigations, Uate Biutanaseva is the final witness for FICAC.

He told the court today that he visited the Fiji High Commission in PNG during the investigation to obtain all available sourced documents relating to the Education allowance of the accused’s son - Ratu Isoa Tikoca junior.

While being examined by FICAC Senior Counsel Rashmi Aslam, Biutanaseva confirmed receiving sourced documents which included official receipts and ANZ bank statements both from St Joseph’s Nangi College in Brisbane and Fiji High Commission in PNG.

The court was told that these sourced documents were dated between 2006 to 2008.

Biutanaseva also revealed in court that based on a sourced document which they received as part of their investigation, $20,152.32 was transferred from Fiji High Commission in PNG bank account to St Joseph’s Nangi College in Brisbane, Australia on the 8th of August, 2007.

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

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.

The first prosecution witness, Former Director Corporate Affairs for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Kelera Nukutaumaki had told the court that Tikoca had used $94,526.73 for his son’s education at St Joseph’s Nangi College in Brisbane, Australia.

The trial continues this afternoon.