Report by: Shanal Sivan
The Suva High Court has this morning ruled that there is no case to answer in the case involving former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.
Qarase faced two counts of abuse of office.
Laisenia Qarase was alleged to have fraudulently applied the Extinct Mataqali Funds amounting to three million dollars to Vanua Development Corporation Limited and later on to PacificConnex Limited which was owned by Ballu Khan –between December 2003 and September 2005.
Speaking to FBC News, Qarase said he was happy and thanked God for his discharge.
Meanwhile his co-accused Keni Dakuidreketi and Kalivati Bakani, will re-appear in court next month.
Bakani and Dakuidreketi face fraudulent conversion charges – for allegedly having fraudulently applied for a Government Grant of one million dollars which was disbursed to Vanua Development Corporation Limited through Native Land Trust Board as security for a loan by PacificConnex Limited.
Bakani and Dakuidreketi told the court they needed time in getting financial records and locating missing documents relevant to the case.
Judge Justice Bandara urged the lawyers to sort the issues out and indicate their position on the next court date, as the case has been dragging for many years.
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