THE Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has opposed the release of citizen journalist Charlie Charter’s electronic devices, citing ongoing investigations and the continued extraction of data to identify the principal offender.
This was prosecutor Rusiate Doidoi’s response to an application by Mr Charters’ lawyer, Seforan Fatiaki, seeking the release of devices seized under a FICAC search warrant, on the basis that they were required for his client’s professional and personal use.
Mr Charters appeared before Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne yesterday to confirm his return from Australia.
Mr Fatiaki also applied to vary his client’s bail to allow travel to Hong Kong, his place of residence, and to the United Kingdom to attend his uncle’s funeral, which the prosecution asked for time to respond to.
Mr Charters is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting under Section 45 of the Crimes Act and Section 13(1)(g) of the FICAC Act 2007.
FICAC alleges that between November 2 and December 14, 2025, and February this year, Mr Charters intentionally aided and abetted a person, who was at the material time an officer of the commission, to commit an offence by publishing official information relating to the functions of the commission on his Facebook page without permission of the FICAC Commissioner.
Mr Somaratne is set to hear the two applications on April 1, with a ruling scheduled for April 7.
Meanwhile, Mr Fatiaki said he had intended to file an application for a stay of criminal proceedings, however, this would be deferred pending the outcome of matters involving two deputy prime ministers and a Suva lawyer currently before the High Court in Suva.
Mr Charters’ bail has been extended.
