Daniel Kinston Whippy, the managing director of Carpenters Fiji Limited, has pleaded not guilty to charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). He appeared in Suva Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sufia Hamza for his bail variation hearing.
Whippy faces allegations of advising on the alteration of the Fire Investigation Report from an incident that took place on April 8, 2018, at the Morris Hedstrom warehouse in Walu Bay, supposedly for personal gain.
During the hearing, both parties discussed the unavailability of stem cell procedures in Fiji. FICAC lawyer Sera Fatafehi emphasized the conditions needed for Whippy’s travel, which include maintaining the existing $50,000 cash bail bond, imposing non-cash bail bonds of $20,000 each on his two sureties, releasing his passport by the end of the day, and keeping the stop departure order until the results of his visa application are available.
Fatafehi expressed concerns about the risk of Whippy absconding bail, stressing the need for a higher bail bond to ensure all parties remain engaged in the proceedings. The defense lawyer Stephen Stanton indicated that Whippy’s wife would accompany him, though a son has been proposed as an alternative if necessary.
FICAC confirmed that Whippy made no admissions during his caution interview, and both parties agreed to have the case heard in the Magistrate’s Court. Whippy’s second attorney, Suruj Sharma, noted that an online visa application had been submitted, and the U.S. Embassy’s processing might take around three weeks.
The court will reconvene on November 11 to review the stop departure order.
This case highlights the importance of due process and legal representation as Whippy navigates through the judicial system. The upcoming hearing could provide clarity on the situation and pave the way for a resolution.
Overall, while the circumstances are serious, there remains a structured process in place that aims to ensure fairness and justice for all involved.
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