Citizen journalist Charlie Charters has been granted permission to temporarily reside in Hong Kong while awaiting the determination of a criminal charge brought by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne also allowed him to travel to the United Kingdom to attend his uncle’s funeral and visit his 94-year-old mother, finding that he is not a flight risk and that his travel is both essential and imperative.
The magistrate concluded that Mr Charters was not a flight risk, based on his strong ties to Fiji, his continued involvement in sports and other community comments in Fiji and “most importantly his prior conduct in returning to Fiji in compliance with the court orders”.
The magistrate also found that it would be prudent for Mr Charters’s employment to permit him to temporarily reside in Hong Kong based on his long-standing residence there and the convenience it afforded him to travel to other destinations. He noted that Mr Charters’s trial would not take place until September, “which remains some distance away from today”.
Mr Charters has been charged with two counts of aiding and abetting a FICAC officer to unlawfully divulge FICAC information under Section 13G of the FICAC Act.
As part of the variation to his bail conditions, Mr Charters must deposit $5000 in cash bail, while his three sureties are each required to enter into a personal bond of $50,000.
He was warned that failure to return to Fiji to face his charges may result in the matter proceeding in his absence and being determined by way of a trial in absentia. He was also reminded to exercise caution on social media and comply with all standard bail conditions.
Meanwhile, FICAC will also provide an update on the next court date regarding the progress of its investigation into Mr Charters’s personal devices, which he has asked the court to order to be released to him.
The case will be recalled on April 14.
