Peniasi Kunatuba [left] and Former Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner, Ifereimi Vasu [right]

The trial dates of two employees of Fiji Corrections Service charged with abuse of office has been vacated to October.

Former FCS Commissioner, Ifereimi Vasu and acting Deputy Commissioner, Peniasi Kunatuba are charged by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption.

High Court Judge Riyaz Hamza said the number of witnesses to be called during the trial is one reason behind changing the trial dates.

Hamza said it was best to vacate the trial as it did not start yesterday due to electricity issues as well.

The trial was supposed to start yesterday and end on July 16th but now the trial will happen from 7th October to 8th November.

Defense Lawyer for Vasu says he will be calling in five witnesses while Kunatuba’s lawyer will be calling in two witnesses.

FICAC will be calling in 16 witnesses.

Ifereimi Vasu is charged with one count of abuse of office for allegedly facilitating and approving the purchase of goods worth over $131,000 from the Naboro Mini-Mart in which he was a Company Director.

Peniasi Kunatuba is also charged with one count of abuse of office for allegedly facilitating and approving the purchase of goods worth $54, 000.

Former Naboro Mini-Mart Limited Manager, Dhansukh Lal Bhika who was previously charged alongside the accused will now be a witness for FICAC.

This after FICAC withdrew Bhika’s charges and granted him immunity from prosecution.

The matter will be called on September 18th for the pre-trial conference.