Former National Fire Authority (NFA) Board Chair John O’Connor has formally pleaded “Not Guilty” to corruption charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). O’Connor, alongside Daniel Whippy, the Managing Director of Carpenters Fiji, appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court to respond to these serious allegations.

O’Connor is accused of Abuse of Office, specifically related to his alleged directive to NFA officers to alter key findings in a fire investigation report concerning the April 8, 2018, fire at the MH Warehouse in Walu Bay. The charges indicate that these actions occurred between January 1, 2018, and September 28, 2018, and were purportedly aimed at granting him a personal benefit while detrimentally affecting the rights of the NFA.

Whippy has also entered a “Not Guilty” plea, facing a charge of Counseling for the Omission of Offense—he is accused of advising O’Connor to amend the investigation report’s findings.

During the court proceedings, Whippy’s attorney informed the magistrate of his client’s need for knee surgery, requesting permission to travel overseas for the procedure scheduled between February 2 and March 1, 2025. The FICAC prosecutor did not oppose this request, which led to the lifting of a Stop Departure Order for Whippy, thus permitting him necessary medical attention.

The court has set a follow-up date of March 3, 2025, where it will address the next steps in the hearing, reaffirming the judicial system’s commitment to addressing serious allegations of misconduct in public office.

This case highlights the critical need for accountability and transparency in Fiji’s public institutions. As the legal process unfolds, there remains hope that it will foster greater integrity within governance and restore public trust in leadership, reinforcing the importance of ethical standards in both public and private sectors.