FORMER acting Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Salote Panapasa will take the stand as one of two defence witnesses when her trial resumes on October 1.
Ms Panapasa will give evidence after Magistrate Charles Ratakele ruled that she has a case to answer on two counts of abuse of office and an alternative count of general dishonesty causing a loss.
She is alleged to have redirected building materials meant for FCS projects to her home at Kinoya in Nasinu between August and October 2023.
She is also accused of altering a weekly report in August 2023 to renovate her house without justifying the use of the building materials.
Magistrate Ratakele dismissed Ms Panapasa’s no-case-to-answer application yesterday after considering the evidence of 11 prosecution witnesses, exhibits and submissions from parties.
He found that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case, including evidence that Government-procured materials could not be used for an officer’s personal residence without the required approval.
Magistrate Ratakele said FICAC witnesses had given evidence supporting the allegation that verbal instructions were issued for FCS materials to be used at Ms Panapasa’s residence. He stressed that the ruling was not a finding of guilt, but that the evidence was sufficient for Ms Panapasa to be called upon to answer the charges.
Ms Panapasa remains on bail.
