Former Fiji Commerce Commission CEO charged with abuse of office

Former CEO of Fiji Commerce Commission Bobby Maharaj has appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court.

Maharaj is charged with one count of abuse of office.

The charge was not read in court as the defence has opted for charges to be read when Maharaj takes the plea.

FICAC says it is alleged that the accused while being employed by the Commerce Commission in abuse of authority directed an employee of the commission, without conducting an inspection to fill in false information to indicate an inspection was conducted of a trader and a verbal warning was issued against the trader for breaches under the Commerce Commission Decree.

FICAC says this was prejudicial to the rights of the Commerce Commission and the trader. The Ministry of Industry and Trade referred the complaint to FICAC.

Maharaj has been granted bail on a $500 bail bond, given two sureties, has been told not to reoffend, not to change his residential address before informing the court and also has to surrender his passport.

A stop departure order has also been issued.

He will also have to report to FICAC once a month.

Defence lawyer Avinesh Reddy today made a verbal application for name suppression because he says that his client is holding a post at Tertiary Education Loans Scheme and it’s a matter of faith.

Reddy says people would lose faith in the institution because Maharaj is leading an institution which gives loans and scholarships to students.

FICAC lawyer, Rashmi Aslam objected to the application saying that name suppression is made for serious offences. Aslam says holding a prominent post does not make Maharaj entitled to name suppression.

The defence lawyer then raised concern on how the media was informed about the matter and he did not expect a large number of journalists in the court room.

Reddy says his client was charged at 12.30pm and he does not know how it went out to the public.

FICAC lawyer Rashmi Aslam says they have charged government executives in the past including former Prime Ministers, and their names were not suppressed.

In his ruling, Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa said that name suppression is granted for sexual offences to protect the victims.

He says high level government executives were prosecuted and they were not given name suppression.

Magistrate Boseiwaqa says name suppression is a serious application to make and no special treatment is given to anyone as the law applies to everyone.

The matter has been adjourned to 10th November for disclosures.