Daniel Whippy, the Managing Director of Carpenters Fiji, has officially declared his innocence by pleading not guilty to corruption charges. He faces a charge of ‘counselling for the omission of the offense’ alongside former National Fire Authority Chairman John O’Connor, who is accused of ‘abuse of office’ related to a fire incident at Carpenters Fiji’s MH Warehouse in Walubay back in 2018.
The plea was necessary for Whippy as part of conditions set by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for granting him permission to travel to the United States for urgent knee stem cell treatment. FICAC’s Senior State Counsel, Sera Fatafehi, indicated that if Whippy does not return to Fiji, the trial could proceed without him.
Whippy’s attorney emphasized his client’s constitutional right to urgent medical care. The court has agreed to two sureties of twenty thousand dollars each to ensure Whippy does not evade bail, and FICAC has raised no objections to this arrangement. His passport has been returned to him for the purpose of obtaining a U.S. medical visa, while he has lodged a $50,000 deposit with the court as part of the bail conditions.
The allegations suggest that between January 1 and September 28, 2018, O’Connor, while serving as the Chair of the National Fire Authority Board, abused his position by directing NFA officers to alter the findings of their fire investigation report concerning the MH Warehouse incident—an action deemed detrimental to the rights of the NFA for personal gain. Whippy is alleged to have counseled O’Connor in this wrongdoing.
The case has been scheduled for further mention regarding the bail application and visa status on the 19th of this month, with a stop departure order still in effect.
This situation highlights the complexities of legal proceedings intertwined with urgent health needs, underlining how individuals navigate the judicial system while also managing personal health crises. There is hope that Whippy will be able to receive the necessary medical care while maintaining adherence to the legal process, demonstrating that justice can proceed alongside personal health needs.
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