The lawyer for former fisheries minister Kalaveti Ravu has not yet received additional disclosures from the prosecution, despite a request made on August 19. During a court update, Ravu’s attorney, Lavi Rokoika, expressed that this information was still pending. She indicated that she had also asked the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to reconsider the charges against Ravu, although the prosecution is determined to proceed with the current allegations.
Rokoika mentioned that the agreed facts would be prepared and filed within 21 days and suggested setting a trial date regardless of whether the disclosures are provided. FICAC prosecutor Lavenia Ravuikadavu supported the completion of the pre-trial conference but had no objections to establishing a trial date.
Ravu faces accusations of interfering with a lawful ministerial investigation concerning the suspected illegal trade of a banned beche-de-mer species. Tekata Toaisi, the regional manager for the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assisting the former minister during July and August of the previous year.
Both Ravu and Toaisi appeared before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou and are scheduled to return to the Suva Magistrate’s Court on September 19.