Former NFA Chair and Carpenters Fiji MD Plead Not Guilty to Corruption Charges

Former National Fire Authority (NFA) Board Chair John O'Connor has pleaded "Not Guilty" to charges of corruption filed by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

O'Connor, along with Carpenters Fiji Managing Director Daniel Whippy, appeared before Resident Magistrate Sufia Hamza in Suva Magistrate Court.

O'Connor is charged with one count of Abuse of Office, allegedly directing NFA officers to amend a fire investigation report to benefit certain parties.

Whippy faces one count of Counseling for the Omission of the Offence, allegedly advising O'Connor to make these amendments.

Whippy's lawyer, Suruj Sharma, informed the court that Whippy would be traveling overseas for knee surgery, and the court approved the travel after the FICAC prosecutor did not object, lifting the Stop Departure Order for Whippy.