The ruling on the application where FICAC has asked the Suva Magistrate court that they want to produce another witness in Ratu Isoa Tikoca’s case will be delivered on the 31st of this month.
FICAC Senior Counsel, Rashmi Aslam told the court that the issue they want to clarify is that whether Tikoca directed his staff to continue the deduction from his salary.
He says the prosecution cannot foresee that the blame was indirectly on the staff so it would be fair for the relevant staff to come and clarify this.
Defense counsel, Jolame Uludole disputed that there is no need for the prosecution to call for another witness and he also clarified that his client did not use the word directed but he said that he told his staff to continue deduction from his salary.
Magistrate, Makereta Mua told both the counsels to submit their written submission within seven days.
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.
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