SUVA (Radio NZ International / Pacific Media Watch): Assessors in the trial of Fiji’s ousted elected Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase have recommended he be found guilty on nine corruption-related charges.
The charges date back to 1991 when Qarase was with the Fiji Development Bank and were the result of an investigation by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
Radio New Zealand International's correspondent Ricardo Morris reports from Suva:
“The three assessors in the High Court trial found Mr Qarase guilty of six charges of abuse of office, and three charges relating to discharge of duty as a public servant for property in which he had a private interest. The prosecution alleged he applied for shares in Fijian Holdings Limited on behalf of companies his family owned or that he represented, depriving others of the same opportunity.
"Mr Qarase was charged under Fiji’s obsolete Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence for abuse of office of three years.
"Justice Priyantha Fernando will make his judgment on Tuesday.
“The case was first brought to court in 2008 and the trial lasted 15 days.”
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