Daniel Kinston Whippy, the managing director of Carpenters Fiji Limited, has entered a not guilty plea regarding accusations brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). He appeared before Magistrate Sufia Hamza at the Suva Magistrate’s Court for a bail variation hearing.
Whippy faces serious charges related to counseling the alteration of the Fire Investigation Report from an incident that occurred on April 8, 2018, at the Morris Hedstrom warehouse in Walu Bay, allegedly for personal gain.
During the hearing, FICAC lawyer Sera Fatafehi outlined conditions that Whippy must meet for his travel to be permitted. These conditions include retaining the existing $50,000 cash bail, updating his sureties to a non-cash bail bond of $20,000 each, releasing his passport by the end of the business day, and upholding a stop departure order until further results from their visa application process are available. FICAC expressed concern about the potential for Whippy to abscond, emphasizing the importance of increasing the bail bond to ensure both the accused and his sureties are committed to the legal proceeding.
Defense lawyer Stephen Stanton mentioned that Whippy’s wife would be traveling with him, while an alternative of his son was also proposed if there were any issues. Ms. Fatafehi confirmed that Whippy did not make any admissions during his caution interview, and it was agreed by both parties that the case would be processed in the Magistrate’s Court. Whippy’s second lawyer, Suruj Sharma, noted that an online visa application has been submitted, though he requires his passport for an in-person interview, which could take approximately three weeks to process through the United States Embassy.
The case is scheduled for further hearing on November 11, where the stop departure order will be revisited.
This situation reflects ongoing efforts in Fiji to address corruption issues and reinforce legal integrity. The upcoming court sessions will be crucial in determining the outcome of the charges against Whippy, highlighting the judicial system’s role in maintaining accountability among public figures. As the legal proceedings unfold, there remains hope for transparency and justice to prevail in this case.
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