Lawyers for former deputy prime minister Manoa Kamikamica will apply in the Suva Magistrate’s Court today for the dismissal of his prosecution by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for perjury.
FICAC closed its case against Mr Kamikamica yesterday after Government backbencher Kalaveti Ravu gave evidence about notes in his personal diary from 2024, which stated that Mr Kamikamica had informed him Barbara Malimali would be the next FICAC commissioner before her September 2024 appointment.
Answering questions from FICAC prosecutor Josann Pene, Mr Ravu testified that while Parliament was sitting in July 2024, several colleagues approached him asking about the progress of his FICAC case. However, Mr Ravu declined to name them.
Referring to an entry in his diary dated July 8, 2024, Mr Ravu confirmed he recorded that Mr Kamikamica approached him seeking clarification and an update on his case.
Another entry, dated August 5, 2024, recorded that Mr Kamikamica again approached him during a parliamentary sitting, asking about his case and telling him Ms Malimali would be the next FICAC commissioner.
Mr Kamikamica is charged with one count of perjury for allegedly stating under oath during the 2024 Commission of Inquiry into Ms Malimali’s appointment as FICAC commissioner that he had no knowledge of the appointment before it was announced on September 5, 2024.
Alternatively, he faces one count of providing false information to a public servant for allegedly giving the same information to the COI.
Defence lawyer Wylie Clarke elected not to cross-examine Mr Ravu. Following the close of the prosecution’s case, Mr Clarke told Magistrate Charles Ratakele that he wished to make a no-case-to-answer submission.
