Qarase found guilty, judgement tomorrow
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July 30, 2012 03:07:32 PM
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Former director of Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) Laisenia Qarase was found guilty of all nine charges by the three assessors in the High Court in Suva this afternoon and a judgement will be delivered tomorrow. The assessors found Qarase guilty of six counts of abuse of office and three counts of discharge of duty with respect to a property in which he has a private interest. High Court Judge Justice Priyantha Fernando is expected to make his final judgment tomorrow. The court heard during Justice Fernando’s summing up that it was up to the assessors to decide which evidence they would accept and the decision will be up to them. Justice Fernando told the assessors their decision should be their own and they should not listen to whatever is said outside of court. The court heard that the assessor’s duty was to find out the truth and not get carried away by their emotions. It is alleged Qarase between 1992 to 2000 while employed as a director of Fijian Holdings Limited, Financial Advisor of the Fijian Affairs Board and advisor to the Great Council of Chiefs, in abuse of the authority of his office, did arbitrary acts. He is alleged to have applied in the name of Cicia Plantation Co-op Society Limited, Mavana Investments Limited and a family owned company named Q-Ten Investments Limited for the issuance and allotment of Class A shares in Fijian Holdings Limited. By Mereani Gonedua |
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Not surprised at all another regime ruling that’s full of bullshit….
It would appear that our totally independent and highly professional judiciary has once again demonstrated that it is fully capable to return verdicts and sentencing that pleases the thugs running our country.
Corruption in the highest level…a true picture of how the judiciary is not independant anymore in Fiji. How can this verdict be when all the evidence says otherwise!!
Verdict was expected since the whole judicial system including jury is contaminated by the interfering regime controlling the process in the background. We need a totally independent system to get a fair trial. Everything seems to be predictable. A court case for some very old obscure issue, conviction and perhaps jail time and disqualification from contesting election as the time draws near.
THIS IS TO CRIMINALISE GARASE FROM ELECTION.
JURY IS SET UP TO GAIL AND NOTHING ELSE.
THERE IS NO FREE AND INDEPENDANT JURY.
Unfortunate that the politically motivated legal actions against Qarase are suspect and politically motivated however he and other prieveledged Fijians got A shares with FH via tainted processes. Those benefits were meant for all Fijians irrespective whether one is a villager or a top executive. .
My gut feelings and inner convictions based on Lai’s track record including the scandolous Agricultural Scam (dismissed on technical grounds), granting of pardons to coup participants, and racist policies convince me that Laisenia is corrupt and deserves to account for his sins and actions.
On same account all coup participants and coup supporters fron Rabuka to Bainimarama and their supporters should be tried for treason and other crimes commited then sentenced to jail accordingly and not pardened as proposed by Bainimarama who again is trying to save his arse.
18 month suspended sentence
Siti must be so proud being the miserable sell out snitch bitch of Aiyaz. Classic example of I taukei veiqati and liu muri. A disgrace to all Fijians along with his village bicycle of a wife
A Fijian peasant from the Tailevu countryside visits Suva is trying to protest against the regime, therefore he throws leaflets, papers around on the Victoria Parade. Cops arrest him and question him, then they observe that there was nothing on the papers, they were all plain white.
The cops are not certain if they can charge him under the Public Order Amendment Decree and ask him why the papers are white, without a single word against the regime. The peasant prisoner replies: “It’s obvious anyway, why should I write it down?”
Sri Lankan junta judges – simply guns for hire – like the useless poorly led military. Fiji is now in the hands of treasonous ferals and criminals. I want nothing more to do with the failed state. It deserves all that is coming to it.
This murdering junta and is scumbag treasonous supporters like gates, pryde and smith johns can be responsible for the murder of unarmed CRW Fijian patriots, undertake human rights abuse including jumping on pregnant women, crucify the Christian methodist church and yet not even face justice. On the other hand patriots like the Fijian PM. the Hon Qarase, removed by force of the gun get found guilty by the sham justice system? You are a Fijian hero and patriot Mt Qarase – stand proud and wait for justice – it will come eventually and the people of Fiji will be free again from this taliban inspired tyranny.
sad day in fiji histroy-what a staged trial and guilty verdict whp the junta want to fool
chaudhyr will also go gail waste time to fight case verdict already guilty decided by junta
Fiji has a Russian style judicial system. the judges do what the political bosses want them to do. shouldn’t some other people also be standing trial for the crimes they have committed? why aren’t they facing justice? so what kind of justice is this? selective “justice”? this case simply provides evidence of that, doesn’t it? I don’t think Qarase was a saint but I don’t think he was a huge scoundrel either. I know some who are but they are walking around as free men! How come?
the srilanka judges are on 250000 package which is millions in srilanka currency.
the money bribe talks-they will gail all that is told by junt.
these judges are puppets of junta.
bai & khai wait for the day when we come back.
I have no sympathy for Qarase. However, although I believe that he was guilty of using undo influence (he bought support for himself by giving indigenous Fijian farmers free gifts of farming equipment, etc. etc.) his conviction is under a cloud because the courts lack independence. Any decisions made by the courts is open to question.
garase must appeal to the court of appeal and will win this.
Qarase must go in! He has been correctly found guilty! Justice Fernando will uphold the findings of FACT! In you go, sly fraudster!
The only logical sentence here is to strip his family of their shares along with any tainted investments and banish him to his Island never to seek office or participate in future political assemblages.
The man is 71 years old and law must take that into account.
“The man is 71 years old and law must take that into account.”
That is the same 71year old that Frank is so terrified of that he invented a law and forced a court to find against him…?
Apart from stripping his family of their ill-gotten wealth, Qarase must serve some time in prison like other white collar criminals!
WITH GARASE THE JUNTA PARTY WILL HAVE NO ONE TO VOTE FOR THEM.
SO GAIL GARASE FOLLWED BY CHAUDI.
BOTH PM IN GAIL ON FRAMED UP CASES AND THEN POLITICAL VACUUM SO WIN BY DEFAULT.
The ambivalence I note in some of the comments stems from the the fact that Qarase had to be dealt with under this regime. Otherwise, don’t you think he had done well for himself and his families evading justice until he hit his 70s?
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fijivillage.com NEWS BREAK
Laisenia Qarase found guilty by 3 assessors
Former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
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Assessors find Qarase guilty
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Assessors find Qarase guilty
Publish date/time: 30/07/2012 [17:13]
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Guilty for the nine counts.
That is the verdict of the three assessors in former Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase’s Fijian Holdings Limited trial.
After deliberating on the charges and evidence for about two hours, the assessors returned to court and found Qarase guilty of six counts abuse of office and three counts of the charge of discharging his duty with respect to property in which he has a private interest.
With 71-year-old Qarase sitting in the dock, the nine counts were read out by the court clerk one at a time to each of the assessors and they said guilty for all the charges.
Justice Fernando then asked the assessors’ opinions on the six counts of abuse of office on whether Qarase abused his office for gain.
All the three assessors said yes for all the six counts.
High Court Judge, Justice Priyantha Fernando will deliver his judgement at 2.30pm tomorrow.
Qarase shook hands with his legal counsel after the verdict and drove away in his waiting vehicle from the court-house.
The maximum sentence for abuse of office is three years imprisonment while the charge of discharging his duty with respect to property in which he has a private interest carries the maximum sentence of one year imprisonment.
Qarase is charged with 6 counts of abuse of office and three counts of discharge of duty with respect to property in which he has a private interest.
It is alleged that Qarase applied, and then facilitated and allowed the purchase of Class A FHL shares for certain companies when he was Director of FHL, Financial Advisor of the Fijian Affairs Board and Advisor to the Great Council of Chiefs.
While summing up the case earlier today, Justice Fernando told the assessors that if the act is done purposely for gain, then Qarase is guilty.
He told the assessors that they need to find out whether Qarase was in public service and if he used his position that is not according to institution procedures to give some advantage.
He highlighted that FICAC witness, Ratu Timoci Vesikula in his evidence said that Qarase was already the financial advisor of the Great Council of Chiefs when he became Fijian Affairs Minister in 1992.
He pointed out that Vesikula had said that in the GCC files he could not find any declaration by Qarase that he had financial interests in any company.
Justice Fernando also said that FICAC witness, Sitiveni Weleilakeba had highlighted that there are no records of Qarase’s declaration of interest in Mavana Investments, Cicia Plantation Co-op Society Limited and Q-Ten Investments.
Weleilakeba had said that if Qarase had made the declaration, he would have recorded it.
The Judge highlighted that Weleilakeba had declared his interest in Stiks Investments which was recorded in the minutes.
The judge also focused on defense witnesses mainly, Joe Mar who gave evidence that he cannot recall Qarase declaring his interest however he said that this does not mean that it did not happen.
Referring to when former FHL, Joe Mar gave evidence, the Judge highlighted that it is evident that no declaration of interest was recorded in the minutes.
Justice Fernando said Mar also said that he cannot trace why his declaration of interest in a company was not recorded in the minutes. He told the assessors that their duty is to find the facts on evidence and not to get carried away by emotions.
Stay with us for coverage on Qarase’s trial as Justice Fernando delivers his judgement at 2.30pm tomorrow on whether he concurs with the assessors and finds Qarase guilty for the nine counts or decides otherwise.
Story by: Vijay Narayan, William Waqavakatoga & Ronal Deo
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Let the law take its course. Qarase will have to pay for his fraud actions from which he , his families, and some lauans benefitted.
The class A shares should have been opened to all fijians and not just a select few lauans, who had inside knowledge of the FHL.
This is the truth and there is no denial. FRom the evidence it is very clear that Qarase has abused his positions while being a director of FHL.
Radio Kosa.
“That is the same 71year old that Frank is so terrified of that he invented a law and forced a court to find against him”
Boy don’t you think those who make the law has a higher degree of obligation to the law, in this case Qarase, for the law isn’t logical but it is based on reason.
Whether Qarase is innocent or not, he and he alone knows the truth.
We can argue the finer points but that wont help Qarase, what do you think?
Let the law take its course. Qarase will have to pay for his fraud actions from which he , his families, and some lauans benefitted.
The class A shares should have been opened to all fijians and not just a select few lauans, who had inside knowledge of the FHL.
This is the truth and there is no denial. FRom the evidence it is very clear that Qarase has abused his positions while being a director of FHL.
A Five year sentence will be ideal for this corrupt, politician and it will drive a message into thick numbskulls of .all potential corporate fraudsters in Fiji.
All transaction were legal. Qarase is being penalised for being a successful Fijian.
Iremember when no one believed in the initial Fijian Holding, those who did received class A shares, the Johnny come lately are being jealous and are suing..
This judgment is tainted.
Walei Apete Naitini, kakua ni o via vosa, you’ve been away for too long and what’s more, have nothing to show for residing in the first world! Ignorant fool.
A UNANIMOUS VERDICT OF GUILTY ON ALL NINE COUNTS… phew!
The illegal dictator and his thugs will be the only people you can vote for as all opposition parties will be barred from political office. The NZ National Party Government and Australian Government will look like idiots after the Fijian Rigged Election.
ITS NOT OVER YET-THE CORRUPT JUDGE WILL FIND GARASE GUILTY AND GAIL HIM-HIS LAWYER WILL APPEAL TO COURT OF APPEAL AND GARASE WILL BE RELEASED ON BAIL.
THEN HE WILL WIN IN COURT OF APPEAL.
THIS MAN IS NO CASSAVA PATCH HERO HE IS A FIGHTER.
Here is a corruption that seems to gone have unnoticed and uncommented upon – forget about the impersonation – just see how readily Gokal and sons had given away things to “Filipe Bole” without second thoughts – what else the Ministers are up to:
Bole imposter charged
Publish date/time: 30/07/2012 [17:11]
Ernest Whippy, a 69-year-old unemployed man of Navua appeared before Magistrate Lashika Fernando this afternoon charged with impersonating the Minister of Education.
Whippy is charged with one count of obtaining property by deception and one count of dishonestly causing a loss.
It is alleged that Whippy while impersonating the Minister over the phone acquired a lap top from D Gokal, $4,000 worth of cigarettes, along with various items from supermarkets.
“The man is 71 years old and law must take that into account.”
Really? I’m older than he is and I don’t believe that as the result of age, I would be entitled to any special considerations. People have to be held responsible for their actions, regardless of age. An exception could be made for people who are suffering from dementia, but that is a different matter. When older people are suffering from ill health, in many (but not all) cases that is their own doing because of failure to live a healthful lifestyle, i.e., have a proper diet, get adequate exercise, and not become overweight.
Although I believe that Qarase has done things for which he should be sentenced, the fact that the independence of the judiciary has been undermined by the dictatorship puts all convictions under a cloud if there is even the slightest possibility that the convictions could be politically motivated.
apete naitini pliz kua mada na vosa vaka matau ,tamata dau vaka yali ilavo o iko,o butakoca nai lavo ni rra usa vata kei nai lavo ni lotu mai st rafael ca usa,o sa baci lai tekivuna oqori e dua na vale ni lotu mo baci laki vaka yali lavo kina ,drau vei vutu kei sodrega,osa sega ni madua na soqosoqo ga o curuma o laki vaka yali ilavo ,VUTUSONA,SA RAUTA MADA NA VOSA VAKA MAMATAU NI DA VAKA YALI LAVO TIKO
Despite Qarase’s failings, questions about the impartiality and independence of Fiji’s courts have been proven yet again.
It is pretty clear that everything is plain sailing right now according to the illegal and treasonous military regime’s script, but they underestimate once again how this will go down with the voting populace ie those aligned to Qarase’s party and those not.
If the voting populace cannot trust the independence of the courts, how will they ever trust the constitutional consultations, the EVR and the elections?
It stands to reason that Chaudhry is next:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Australia/Fiji-court-annuls-charges-against-Mahendra-Chaudhry/Article1-895517.aspx
…maybe not as heavy-handed as what will be handed down to Qarase, but enough to ensure that FLPs effective participation in the upcoming elections will be crippled and that is assured by their sham decree/s.
much cannot be said, but a lessons learned for all of us to be honest in our dealings whether is too big or too small, it will one way or another to reward you or haunt you.
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