The trial of former Minister for Fisheries and Forests, Kalaveti Ravu, begins today following a ruling by the Suva Magistrates Court that the corruption-related charges against him are not defective.
Ravu, who faces charges of Abuse of Office and Abetting Abuse of Office alongside former Fisheries Regional Manager Tekata Toaisi, has denied the allegations.
The charges stem from claims that Ravu and Toaisi interfered with an investigation into the illegal trade of banned beche-de-mer species.
Yesterday, Resident Magistrate Jeremaia Savou rejected Ravu’s bail application, stating that the charge provided adequate details for the defendant to prepare his defence. Ravu’s counsel, Lavi Rokoika, had argued that the particulars of the charge were bare and did not provide sufficient information to enable him to prepare a defence.
The defence also raised concerns over the definition of ‘person employed in the Civil Service’ in relation to the Crimes Act 2009, suggesting it conflicted with the definition of ‘Public Service’ in Fiji’s 2013 Constitution. Magistrate Savou, however, determined that any potential conflict in interpretation would be addressed during the proceedings, leaving it to the discretion of the prosecution.
