The attorney for Daniel Whippy, managing director of Carpenters Fiji Limited, has dismissed comments made by a lawyer from the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) as “nonsense.” This statement followed an assertion by FICAC lawyer Sera Fatafehi in court that a stem cell procedure is available locally.
Whippy, who is facing charges of abuse of office, appeared in front of Magistrate Sufia Hamza to discuss FICAC’s response to his request for a variation in bail conditions, allowing him to travel to the United States for a stem cell procedure concerning his knee.
During the hearing, FICAC’s Fatafehi presented two affidavits to support their objection to Whippy’s travel. One was from a FICAC Investigation Officer, and the other from Dr. Alvin De Asa, an orthopedic surgeon at Nasese Private Hospital. Fatafehi argued that the affidavits provided valid reasons against Whippy’s travel, while De Asa suggested that treatment could be done locally.
Whippy’s lawyer, Suruj Sharma, challenged the claims regarding the doctor’s affidavit, stating that it did not address the stem cell procedure central to their request. Sharma emphasized in court that such a procedure is invasive and only available in the United States, asserting that Fatafehi had not submitted any affidavit to counter this claim.
Fatafehi mentioned her inability to confirm the availability of local surgeons for the procedure but stated that they had identified a surgeon who would soon return to Suva and would be available to provide a statement.
Magistrate Hamza expressed that FICAC should have had ample time to file the necessary affidavit, considering the particular nature of the surgery involved. Fatafehi, apologizing for the delay, explained that finding a specialist for the rare treatment was challenging.
After providing FICAC with an additional seven days to file the affidavits, Sharma reminded the court of Whippy’s ongoing discomfort, which affects his daily activities. FICAC has until Thursday to submit their affidavits, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for November 6. Whippy was excused from the upcoming court session.
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