Daniel Kingston Whippy, managing director of Carpenters Fiji Limited, has submitted another request for a bail variation in order to seek medical treatment in the United States. Whippy appeared in court on crutches alongside his wife during the hearing, which took place at the Suva Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sufia Hamza.
Also appearing in court was John Masi O’Connor, the former chief executive officer of the National Fire Authority (NFA), who faces a single count of abuse of office.
Both individuals are charged under Section 45 in conjunction with Section 139 of the Crimes Act of 2009. The court was informed that between January 1 and September 28, 2018, while O’Connor served as the chairman of the NFA board, he directed his staff to alter findings in a Fire Investigation Report related to a fire incident on April 8, 2018, at the Morris Hedstrom warehouse in Walu Bay, Suva, for personal gain. Whippy, who was the director of W R Carpenters (South Pacific) PTE Limited at that time, allegedly encouraged O’Connor to commit this offense.
During the proceedings, Sera Fatafehi, a lawyer for the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), objected to Whippy’s application, noting that they had only received it the previous Wednesday. She requested time to verify an affidavit supporting Whippy’s application from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Enosi Don Taloga before responding formally.
Whippy’s attorney, Stephen Stanton, argued that the procedure needed for Whippy was non-invasive and could only be performed in the U.S. He mentioned that if Whippy’s visa were to be denied, they would consider seeking treatment in India.
The court will reconvene on October 28 to allow FICAC to present its response regarding the bail variation request. Additionally, Magistrate Hamza has postponed O’Connor’s plea date to January 13, 2025.