Former Minister and Official Accused of Interfering in Illegal Beche-de-Mer Trade

A former Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry will take the stand today as a key witness in the trial against former Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, Kalaveti Ravu, and former Fisheries Regional Manager North, Tekata Toaisi.

The case was heard in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday, where Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Manager Legal, Laite Bokini-Ratu, revealed that eight witnesses will testify for the prosecution. Six of them are current or former employees of the Ministry, while two are FICAC investigators.

A ninth witness has already provided their statement and evidence, so they will not need to take the stand.

Bokini-Ratu confirmed that six witnesses are ready to give evidence this week.

However, she asked the court to allow a part-heard trial since three other witnesses are unavailable this week. Resident Magistrate Savou said the court would address this matter at the end of the trial.

Ravu is charged with one count of abuse of office, while Toaisi faces one count of abetting abuse of office.

They are accused of interfering in a Ministry of Fisheries investigation into the illegal trade of banned species of beche-de-mer.