A TELECOMMUNICATIONS Fiji Ltd manager yesterday agreed with Sanjay Kaba’s defence lawyer that Mr Kaba was entitled and eligible to receive TFL payments totalling $766,327.22 between June 2022 and July 2023.
TFL’s general manager corporate services, Samuela Vadei, also agreed during cross-examination that Mr Kaba, who resigned as a board member of TFL and Amalgamated Telecom Holdings in 2018, did not influence him to award a TFL tender for project management services to Mr Kaba’s company, Houng Lee Kaba Jacob Ltd in 2020.
FICAC alleges that Mr Kaba, between January 2017 and January 2019, while a board member of TFL and ATH, used information and influence obtained through his position to win a tender through his company.
Mr Kaba is alleged to have obtained $766,327.22 between June 2022 and July 2023, knowing or believing HLK Jacob was not eligible to receive the financial advantage.
Mr Vadei also agreed that Mr Kaba was paid for work carried out in accordance with the contract, which he confirmed was valid.
Mr Vadei’s role in this case was that he was one of the three members of the management committee who evaluated the nine bidders that submitted an expression of interest in TFL’s new head office project.
The court heard that he and TFL’s former civil engineering consultant, Isoa Tawaketolu, made the most recommendations during the evaluation stage.
Meanwhile, FICAC has been allowed to amend Mr Kaba’s charge information, specifically changing the date from 2019 to 2018, as both sides agree he resigned as a board member in 2018, and replacing the word “tender” with “expression of interest”.
FICAC intends to close its case today.
