Ruling on Mara’s no case to answer application to be delivered on 25th November

Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili will give his ruling in the no case to answer application by former Fijian Ambassador to the US and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Solo Mara on the 25th of November.

Both counsels made their submissions today.

Mara’s lawyer, Devanesh Sharma told the court that there was no breach of search warrant adding the night search conducted on the 24th of January this year was illegal as there was no instructions to conduct the search at night.

Sharma says the search warrant cannot be used as a authority to question a suspect about a password of a personal email.

He added that all FICAC witnesses testified that Mara did not resist any part of the search warrant.

Sharma told the court that FICAC failed to provide any evidence that Mara gave a false password.

FICAC lawyer Sam Savumiramira says they reject the allegations made by Sharma against their case.

Savumiramira says they believe they have admissible evidence that can lead to conviction.

He adds that there is no evidence that Mara called his lawyer adding that the FICAC Act enables their officers to how to execute their duties.

Mara is charged with one count of Disobedience of Lawful Order and one count of Giving False Information.

According to the charges by FICAC, Mara allegedly disobeyed a search warrant on 24th January this year.

FICAC also accuses Mara of giving false information to a FICAC officer between the 22nd and 23rd of January this year.