The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) yesterday claimed it had identified two officers who were allegedly divulging FICAC information to citizen journalist Charlie Charters.
Acting FICAC Commissioner Lavi Rokoika made the disclosure during the hearing of Charters’ application for a permanent stay of proceedings before Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu.
Charters, through lawyer Seforan Fatiaki, argued the prosecution was an abuse of process and instituted for an improper purpose.
He submitted there was “zero evidence” to support the charge of aiding and abetting the unlawful disclosure of confidential FICAC information and claimed the charge was defective because FICAC had failed to identify the alleged principal offender.
The defence also argued Charters was only arrested and charged because he refused to name a confidential source during an encounter with FICAC officers at Nadi International Airport.
In response, Ms Rokoika maintained there was sufficient evidence to support the charge, adding that investigations were ongoing, and charges would be amended.
She argued that most of the defence’s concerns were matters for trial.
Justice Bulamainaivalu has reserved his ruling.
