A trial date relating to the $3million Fiji Airways Jerusalem charter case will be fixed on April 9 at the High Court in Suva.
The matter was called yesterday, where Christian Mission Fellowship International’s senior pastor Manasa Tuqani Kolivuso’s joinder application was heard before Acting Master Liyanage Wickramasekara.
Meanwhile, three other applications were fixed on the last proceeding for hearing on April 9. In its application, Fiji Airways is seeking summary judgment against the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) trustees — Viliame Gonelevu, Aisake Kunanitu, Ana Soqeta, Mikaele Mudreilagi and Mr Kolivuso.
Preeti Verma, representing the airline, informed the court that time would be required to respond to the application, adding that the airline intends to oppose it.
The national airline is also asking the court to strike out the trustees’ counterclaim against it. The third application before the court is the defendants’ bid to strike out Fiji Airways’ claim.
In this case, the airline has instituted civil action against the defendants, seeking payment of $3,163,013.40, plus interest and costs. The case arises from the alleged non-payment of a charter flight in October 2023, which flew 255 pilgrims to Israel to attend the Feast of the Tabernacles. The pilgrims were later repatriated following Hamas’ coordinated terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
In October last year, three defendants — WABS Pacific Pte Ltd, Kane Holding Pte Ltd, and Michael Martin Enele Sturtin Mausio — who chartered the flight, had their pleadings struck out and dismissed by the court after failing to submit required documents.
The case has been adjourned.
