Digicel asks for injunction in FRU case

Digicel’s lawyer Queens Counsel Doctor John Turner has asked the Suva High Court to put an injunction on the Fiji Rugby Union sponsorship deal for a limited period of four months to enable a trial of relief.

Digicel has taken the Fiji Rugby Union to court after FRU signed off the $40 million sponsorship deal with the consortium led by Vodafone earlier this month.

While making the submission in the case which ended late last night, Dr Turner highlighted that Digicel, being the sponsor for a much longer period than Vodafone has suffered huge damages and losses.

He said that Vodafone has only been the sponsor for about 33 days.

Dr Turner also said that the 7s competition has begun and Vodafone accepting the sponsorship is a breach of the case.

Meanwhile, Fiji Rugby Union lawyer Nilesh Lajendra in his submissions pointed out the balance of convenience and one very striking distinction that the Fiji 7s team has had the benefit of receiving funds for the recent NZ Sevens.

Lajendra said that this could be done because no injunction is in place.

Last night, Lajendra handed a Vodafone agreement which was sighted by Justice Kamal Kumar and the Digicel lawyers.

The court heard that FRU had been offered $3.6 million in cash and $4.4 million in kind by the Vodafone consortium which is $8 million in total for sponsorship.

Lajendra said Digicel wrote to FRU on the 20th of January that they would match the amount.

The Court heard that FRU Marketing Manager Baljit Singh told Digicel that the Secondary School Deans Rugby and the Fiji International Sevens had already had their sponsors.

Lajendra said Singh had informed Digicel that they could keep the sponsorship for Deans and International 7s for the Tier 2 competition.

Meanwhile, on the 29th of January, Digicel boss Maurice McCarthy wrote to FRU they will not take up the Tier 2 sponsorship but wanted FRU to sign an agreement relating to the sponsorship.

The total amount offered by Digicel was $7.4 million which did not match the $8 million by Vodafone.

The proceedings ended late last night.

Justice Kamal Kumar will rule on notice.

 
Story by: Tokasa Rainima