Former Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Kalaveti Ravu, has received approval for a variation of his bail, allowing him to travel to China. Ravu is facing a charge of abuse of office in connection with allegations that he interfered in an investigation by the Ministry of Fisheries regarding the illegal trade of banned beche-de-mer species between July 25 and August 31, 2023. He is charged alongside North Tekata Toaisi, the Ministry’s regional manager, who is accused of aiding and abetting Ravu in this offense.
Ravu requested the bail variation to attend a workshop in China later this month as part of his duties as a member of parliament. Magistrate Jeremaia Savou instructed Ravu to provide his travel itinerary to the court registry and to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) before his passport can be released and a stop departure order lifted.
FICAC lawyer Lavenia Ravuikadavu did not oppose the bail variation and noted that a pre-trial conference had already been conducted with both accused’s counsels notified. The trial is scheduled for February 3 to 7 next year, during which FICAC plans to present 12 witnesses and 39 documents. The case has been adjourned to January 7 for additional pre-trial matters.