A trial date concerning the $3 million Fiji Airways Jerusalem charter case is set for April 9 at the High Court in Suva. The matter was addressed recently, where the application for joinder by Manasa Tuqani Kolivuso, senior pastor of the Christian Mission Fellowship International, was examined by Acting Master Liyanage Wickramasekara.
During the same court session, three other applications were scheduled for hearing on April 9. Among these, Fiji Airways is pursuing a summary judgment against the trustees of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ): Viliame Gonelevu, Aisake Kunanitu, Ana Soqeta, Mikaele Mudreilagi, and Kolivuso. Preeti Verma, representing Fiji Airways, indicated that the airline would require additional time to respond to this application and intends to contest it.
Additionally, the national airline is requesting the court to dismiss the counterclaim filed by the trustees. Another application currently before the court seeks to strike out the airline’s claim entirely.
Fiji Airways has initiated civil proceedings against the defendants, demanding payment of $3,163,013.40 in addition to interest and legal costs. This dispute stems from the alleged non-payments related to a charter flight that transported 255 pilgrims to Israel in October 2023 for the Feast of the Tabernacles. The return of the pilgrims was necessitated by the coordinated terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Previously, in October 2022, three other defendants—WABS Pacific Pte Ltd, Kane Holding Pte Ltd, and Michael Martin Enele Sturtin Mausio—had their claims dismissed by the court after failing to submit the required documentation. This case remains pending, highlighting the ongoing legal complexities surrounding Fiji Airways’ financial claims and the broader implications for international travel and safety in turbulent regions.
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