The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) is urging former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica to enter his plea in the Magistrates Court. A pivotal stay application hearing is scheduled for March in the High Court, which could significantly influence the proceedings.
Kamikamica’s legal representative, Wylie Clarke, stated that the situation in the High Court is unusual and critical to the overarching issues of the case. FICAC lawyer Josanne Pene emphasized that, despite the High Court’s ruling affecting the circumstances, the case ought to continue in the Magistrates Court as planned.
At the heart of the case is Kamikamica’s challenge against the appointment of Lavi Rokoika as the Acting FICAC Commissioner. He is seeking to permanently halt the criminal proceedings in the lower court, where he faces two serious charges: one count of perjury and another for providing false information to a public servant.
The allegations suggest that between December 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, in Suva, Kamikamica knowingly made a false statement under oath, asserting that he had no involvement in the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner. Reports also claim that he repeated this false information to the Commissioner of Inquiry.
Magistrate Charles Ratakele has subsequently adjourned the matter to April 14 for plea, which will depend on the outcomes of the stay application. This case highlights the complexities of legal challenges within Fiji’s political landscape, as it intertwines allegations of corruption with issues of governance and oversight.
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