The Suva Magistrates Court has announced hearing dates for former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and former Health Minister Dr. Neil Sharma, set for August 4-8 and August 18-29. This decision was made during a session with Resident Magistrate Sufia Hamza.

The state plans to call 13 witnesses, while Dr. Sharma’s defense attorney, Krisheel Chang, intends to call four to five witnesses. Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum will serve as primary witnesses for their case, represented by lawyers Davenesh Sharma and Gul Fatima.

All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges they face. Bainimarama is charged with one count of abuse of office stemming from allegations that, in his capacity as Minister of Finance on September 13, 2011, he unlawfully waived the tender process for a Ministry of Health contract, violating procurement regulations.

Sayed-Khaiyum faces one count of abuse of office and one count of obstruction of justice. He is accused of similarly waiving a tender process while serving as Acting Minister of Finance and obstructing a FICAC investigation against Dr. Sharma by instructing the inquiry to be shelved.

Dr. Sharma is charged with two counts of abuse of office and two counts of breach of trust. It is alleged that he undermined the tender requirements for two health contracts to benefit Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd, also known as Hospineer, during his tenure as Health Minister.

The case has been adjourned until April 2 for preliminary court matters.

The ongoing legal proceedings illustrate the complexities and challenges surrounding governance and public service integrity. As these former officials face their legal battles, many in Fiji will be closely monitoring how the judicial process unfolds, hoping for accountability and transparent justice.