The attorney for former fisheries minister Kalaveti Ravu has not yet received the additional disclosures requested from the prosecution. Lavi Rokoika, Mr. Ravu’s lawyer, provided an update in court, stating that her request, submitted on August 19, is still pending.
Ms. Rokoika also informed the court that she had asked the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to reevaluate the charges against her client, but the prosecution has signaled its intent to move forward with the current charge.
She mentioned that the agreed facts would be prepared and filed within 21 days and proposed setting a trial date, regardless of the disclosures. However, FICAC prosecutor Lavenia Ravuikadavu recommended that the pre-trial conference be completed first, although she did not oppose establishing a trial date.
Mr. Ravu faces allegations of obstructing a ministerial investigation regarding the suspected illegal trade of a banned species of beche-de-mer. Additionally, Tekata Toaisi, the regional manager for the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests in the North, has pleaded not guilty to assisting the former minister during the period of July to August last year.
Both individuals appeared before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou yesterday and are scheduled to return to the Suva Magistrate’s Court on September 19.