Daniel Kingston Whippy, the managing director of Carpenters Fiji Limited, has submitted a new request for a bail variation to receive medical treatment in the United States. Whippy, facing charges for counseling the commission of an offense, appeared in court yesterday morning on crutches, accompanied by his wife.
He was present alongside co-accused John Masi O’Connor, the former chief executive officer of the National Fire Authority, who is charged with one count of abuse of office. The case was handled by Magistrate Sufia Hamza at the Suva Magistrate’s Court.
The charges relate to actions taken between January 1 and September 28, 2018, in Suva. O’Connor, while serving as chairman of the NFA board, allegedly instructed his subordinates to alter findings in the Fire Investigation Report from an incident that occurred on April 8, 2018, at the Morris Hedstrom warehouse in Walu Bay for personal gain. Whippy, during his tenure as director of W R Carpenters (South Pacific) PTE Limited, is accused of counseling O’Connor regarding this offense.
During the hearing, Sera Fatafehi, a lawyer for the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), expressed opposition to the bail application, citing that they had only received the request on Wednesday afternoon. Fatafehi indicated the need for additional time to verify the supporting affidavit from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Enosi Don Taloga.
Whippy’s attorney, Stephen Stanton, argued that the procedure Whippy seeks is non-invasive and only available in the U.S. He also mentioned that if Whippy’s visa application is denied, they would consider seeking treatment in India instead. The court will reconvene on October 28 to hear FICAC’s response regarding Whippy’s bail variation request. Additionally, Magistrate Hamza has postponed O’Connor’s plea date until January 13, 2025.