Sharma questions whether court has powers to hear Chand’s case

Former Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University Dr Ganesh Chand’s lawyer has filed a submission in the Suva High Court for FICAC to consider whether the court has powers to hear Chand’s case.

Chand has been charged with one count of abuse of office after he allegedly abused his authority by approving the payments for overseas medical treatment for the then Minister of Education and the Chairman of the Fiji National University Council Filipe Bole without the approval of the FNU Council.

Chand’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma told High Court Judge, Justice Riyaz Hamza 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.

In his submission, Sharma says Bole had directed FNU and Chand to take care of his medical cost overseas.

Sharma says 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.

FICAC has been given a month to consider the submission and the matter has been adjourned to the 28th of next month.

Meanwhile Chand’s trial date has been fixed from the 16th to the 27th of July next year.