Former Fisheries and Forestry Minister Kalaveti Ravu will have to wait until next year to learn the outcome of his legal situation. Ravu faces charges alongside former Regional Manager North, Tekata Toaisi, who today entered a ‘not guilty’ plea to accusations of aiding and abetting.
Both Ravu and Toaisi appeared before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou this morning at the Suva Magistrates Court. Toaisi denied the allegations against him, which include a count of aiding and abetting abuse of office.
During the proceedings, FICAC Counsel Lavenia Ravuikadavu reported that there had been no admissions made during the caution interview. Ravu’s attorney, Lavi Rokoika, stated readiness for trial, while Toaisi’s lawyer, Joji Cakau, also expressed eagerness for an early trial date.
FICAC is expected to disclose three additional documents to the defense lawyers, and Ravuikadavu mentioned that the agency will call upon 16 or more witnesses during the trial. The court has scheduled the trial to commence in February of next year.
Ravu is charged with one count of abuse of office. The allegations suggest that between July 25 and August 31, 2023, Ravu interfered with a lawful investigation by the Ministry of Forestry into the illegal trade of banned beche-de-mer species. Toaisi is accused of assisting Ravu in the commission of this offense while employed by the Ministry.
The case has been postponed until next month, with a pre-trial conference set for the 19th.