A WITNESS has told the court that former Telecom Fiji Ltd and Amalgamated Telecom Holdings board member Sanjay Kaba was not involved in the evaluation or decision-making process, nor did he influence a tender process.
Prosecution witness Ashika Nandini, the financial controller for Telecommunications Fiji Ltd made the statement under cross-examination by Mr Kaba’s lawyers, Wasu Pillay and Devanesh Sharma, during the ongoing trial yesterday.
She noted that Mr Kaba resigned on December 7, 2018, before expressions of interest were invited in 2019 for project management services for TFL’s new office and data centre project.
FICAC alleges that Mr Kaba, while a board member of TFL and ATH, used information and influence obtained through his position to procure the submission of a tender through his company, Houng Lee Kaba Jacob Ltd (HLK Jacob).
A statement taken from Ms Nandini by FICAC investigators in 2025 and read in court stated that nine bidders submitted expressions of interest. Of those, four, including Mr Kaba’s company, were shortlisted and invited to present proposals. However, only two companies, including HLK Jacob, presented in April 2019.
Mr Kaba’s company was awarded the tender in January 2020, and Ms Nandini maintained that all bidders were treated fairly.
She also agreed with the defence that payments totalling $766,327.22 were approved through TFL’s internal procedures, properly vetted, within budget, and made in accordance with contractual obligations.
FICAC further alleges Mr Kaba obtained the payments between June 2022 and July 2023, knowing or believing HLK Jacob was not eligible to receive the financial advantage.
Ms Nandini said five companies were involved in the data centre project, with Mr Kaba’s company acting as project manager. However, Mr Pillay highlighted that the request for proposal related only to the headquarters building project and did not include construction of the data centre, which was being handled separately by another international firm.
The trial continues today.
