FORMER Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) director Shameem Khan has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Mr Khan appeared before judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe at the High Court in Suva yesterday, charged with a count each of abuse of office and general dishonesty causing loss.
It is alleged that between January 1, 2016, and May 5, 2017, while employed in the public service as the chief ethical standard unit officer and the director intelligence, compliance and investigations at the FRCS, Mr Khan allegedly prepared an investigation report with false contents, thereby preventing FRCS in obtaining revenue in the sum of $4,118,994.08.
He was also alleged to have dishonestly caused a risk of loss to the FRCS in the sum $4,118,994.08 and he knew that the loss would occur or that there was a substantial risk of the loss occurring during the same period.
FICAC lawyer Rashmi Aslam told the court that they would be relying on the caution interview statement of Mr Khan in the case.
Defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma said at this stage, there were no preliminary challenges in the matter and they would not be challenging the caution interview statement.
Mr Sharma said the defence anticipated a quick trial since there were roughly eight documents that would be actually trialled.
The trial is expected to take place from March 17 to April 3 next year.
Mr Khan had his bail extended.
The matter will be called on October 31.
