First State witness in Bainimarama-Qiliho trial says Prof. Ahluwalia’s paper was to be confidential

First State witness in Bainimarama-Qiliho trial says Prof. Ahluwalia’s paper was to be confidential

By Alipate Narawa , Rashika Kumar
Monday 17/07/2023
Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho leaving court earlier this afternoon

The first State witness in former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho’s trial says the University of the South Pacific Council’s Executive Committee had resolved that the paper by Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia titled Past Management Decisions was to remain confidential.

USP Director Assurance and Compliance Dulari Traill says she was summoned by the Executive Committee on 6th March, 2019 to provide an update on the whistleblower reports.

She says after deliberating the update, she went to her office but was called back to the committee and was advised that the report by Prof. Ahluwalia be handed over to her office for investigations.

Traill says she reported the issues raised by Prof. Ahluwalia and other matters to FICAC on the 17th of April, 2019.

She further says the Council for reasons best known to them, decided to outsource the investigations into Prof. Ahluwalia’s paper on the former Vice Chancellor and others to an independent body, BDO.

While being cross-examined by defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma, Traill agreed that the Executive Committee resolved that Prof. Ahluwalia’s paper be confidential.

She did not agree that her mandate was limited to keeping the report strictly confidential and getting former Vice Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra’s side of the story.

When asked by Sharma that does she agree with keeping it confidential and interview the former Vice Chancellor, Traill says that is a fair conclusion.

Sharma says the BDO report looked at all allegations in the paper by Prof. Ahluwalia where he had a number of allegations against the former Vice Chancellor.

He says the BDO report has looked at every allegation by Prof. Ahluwalia and given it's conclusion.

The defence lawyer says this morning Traill has given names such as Prof. Chandra, former Interim Director Human Resources Dhiraj Bhartu, Executive Director Jainendra Karan, Dr. Anjeela Jokhan and former Payroll Manager Shobna Kiran who were under investigation.

When questioned, Traill agreed with Sharma that BDO covered each and every allegation by Prof. Ahluwalia.

When asked that conclusions were made, she had said that disciplinary processes kicked in and a number of people were terminated and disciplined, Traill said ‘yes’.

Bainimarama is charged with a count of attempt to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho is charged with a count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Bainimarama sometime in July 2020 as the Prime Minister directed the Police Commissioner to stop the investigation into a police complaint, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the University of the South Pacific which is the complainant.

It is alleged that Qiliho on the 15th of July, 2020 as the Police Commissioner directed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass to stop investigations into the police complaint by the USP, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was arbitrary act of prejudicial to the rights to USP.

Bainimarama and Qiliho are represented by R Patel Lawyers Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima while Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Ratu David Toganivalu is representing the State.

The trial continues tomorrow.

Click here for more stories of the Bainimarama and Qiliho trial

FEATURE NEWS
HIV outbreak in Fiji, 1093 new cases of HIV recorded from Jan-Sep 2024 - Dr Lalabalavu
Minister for Health Dr Atonio Lalabalavu has declared a HIV outbreak in Fiji. While declaring the outbreak during the launch of the Fiji National H...
12 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
NFP supports review of the 2013 Constitution
National Federation Party President, Parmod Chand says the party supports the review of 2013 Constitution as it is a draconian legislation that ...
10 hours ago

Parliament to examine whether it is reasonably possible to amend Constitution – PM
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says Parliament will examine whether it is reasonably possible to amend relevant provisions of Chapter 11 of the ...
10 hours ago

Khalsa Road potholes continue to be a safety concern for residents
Residents and drivers continue to raise concerns about the potholes along Khalsa Road in Tacirua opening every few weeks even after road works are ...
11 hours ago

Education Ministry faces challenges with Vatuwaqa Primary School Trustees
The Ministry of Education is facing challenges in collaborating with the trustees and management of Vatuwaqa Primary School, which was destroyed by ...
11 hours ago

Seruiratu’s group is confused and what did they do when they were in Govt – Prof. Prasad
Deputy Prime Minister and National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu and some members of ...
12 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Pryde reinstated as DPP
Suspended Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde has been reinstated to his position after a tribunal investigating the allegations ...
2 days ago

Virgin Australia crew members allegedly sexually assaulted and robbed outside Nadi nightclub
A man has been charged with the rape and sexual assault of one of the Virgin Australia crew members in the early hours of New Year’s Day, near a ...
18 days ago

Lynda Tabuya dismissed as Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says in light of the recent events concerning the conduct of Lynda Tabuya, and in consideration of the Oath she has ...
27 days ago

TOP