The attorney for former fisheries minister Kalaveti Ravu has not yet received additional disclosures requested from the prosecution. During an update in court, Mr. Ravu’s lawyer, Lavi Rokoika, mentioned that her request, made on August 19, remains unanswered.
Ms. Rokoika also informed the court that she had asked the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to reconsider the charges against her client, but the prosecution intends to continue with the current charges. She added that the agreed facts should be ready for filing and serving within 21 days and proposed setting a trial date, regardless of the disclosures.
In response, FICAC prosecutor Lavenia Ravuikadavu suggested that a pre-trial conference be completed first, although she did not oppose the establishment of a trial date.
Mr. Ravu faces accusations of interfering with a legitimate ministerial investigation regarding the suspected illegal trade of a banned species of beche-de-mer. The regional manager for the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, Tekata Toaisi, has pleaded not guilty to charges of aiding the former minister between July and August of the previous year.
Both Mr. Ravu and Mr. Toaisi appeared before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou yesterday and are scheduled to return to the Suva Magistrate’s Court on September 19.