Evidence of human rights violations by Grace Road Group was submitted before the High Court in Lautoka yesterday in the judicial review of former immigration minister Pio Tikoduadua’s decision to deport Group president Daniel Kim.
During the hearing before Justice Anare Tuilevuka, deputy State solicitor Ofa Solimailagi said the evidence was a police statement by former church member Jolie Lee who alleged she was subjected to inhumane acts such as “thrashing” or assault of members.
She said these allegations was relevant to the case because a diplomatic note from the Korean Government submitted in an earlier application referred to the practice of thrashing by the Grace Road Church.
Ms Solimailagi argued these allegations should not be taken lightly as Ms Lee had revealed that apart from the abuse, she was also separated from her children.
She added that when it came to matters of national importance such as national security and governance, these were matters that Mr Tikoduadua had within his purview.
She added these considerations supported his deportation decision made in 2023.
In response, Mr Kim’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma said the claims made by the former church member had nothing to do with the allegations before the Korean Government which were made in 2015.
Referring to a letter submitted by the church countering Ms Lee’s claims, Mr Sharma said the Korean diplomatic and Interpol notices were based on allegations made before Ms Lee joined the church in 2017, and “her evidence had nothing to do with the 2015 case”.
He said the Grace Road Church affected no other member in Fiji.
“It is a closed church and is made up of members that belong to Grace Road and they in no way have tried to influence members of the public in Fiji,” said Mr Sharma.
Mr Sharma, who was supported by Suva lawyer Gul Fatima and Wasu Pillay, added that these counter claims from the church were presented to Ms Lee in November last year but they were not contested.
Justice Tuilevuka is expected to make a decision on the case on February 14.
