Vasu attempted to interfere with prosecution witnesses – FICAC lawyer

FICAC lawyer Rashmi Aslam today told the Suva Magistrates Court that former Fiji Corrections Commissioner Colonel Ifereimi Vasu has attempted to interfere with prosecution witnesses.

Ifereimi Vasu, former Suncourt Hardware Director and Naboro Mart Limited Manager Dhansukh Lal Bhika and former Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and former Acting Deputy Commissioner for Corrections Service Peniasi Kunatuba have been charged by FICAC.

Aslam told Magistrate Makereta Mua that FICAC has been advised about this by the Acting Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Services.

Aslam said they are not making any application for bail variation but just want Vasu to be warned not to interfere with the witnesses.

Vasu’s lawyer, Babu Singh then said that this is a serious allegation and he will be speaking with his client.

The case has been adjourned to the 4th of April for plea.

Vasu has been charged with one count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that while being employed as a Fiji Corrections Commissioner and as a Director of Naboro Mart Limited, Vasu did arbitrary acts for the purpose of gain namely facilitating and approving the purchasing of goods to the amount of $131,683 from the Naboro Mart Limited contrary to the Procurement Regulations 2010, the Financial Management Act 2004, the Finance Manual of the Fiji Corrections Service which were acts prejudicial to the rights of the Fijian government, the Fiji Corrections Service and the approved government contractors.

It is alleged that this occurred between 11th July 2013 and 27th December, 2014.

Peniasi Kunatuba has also been charged with one count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that between 31st January 2013 and 7th March 2014, Kunatuba approved the purchase of goods to the amount of $54,734 from Naboro Mart Limited contrary to the Procurement Regulations 2010.

Dhansukh Lal Bhika has been charged with one count of aiding and abetting abuse of office and one count of obtaining a financial advantage.

It alleged that Bhika aided and abetted Ifereimi Vasu between 11th July 2013 and 27th December 2014 while being the Manager of Naboro Mart Limited.

Bhika was allegedly engaged in a conduct namely supplying goods to the Fiji Corrections Service despite not being an approved supplier or a contractor to the government and as result of that conduct obtained a financial advantage amounting to $186,417 for Naboro Mart Limited, knowing that Naboro Mart was not eligible to receive the financial advantage.

Bhika and Kunatuba were earlier charged, convicted and sentenced in relation to the 2001 Agriculture Ministry scam.