Kamikamica withdrew money without approval: Witness

The Suva High Court heard this morning that former Roko Tui Rewa Savenaca Kamikamica withdrew money from the Rewa Provincial Council account without seeking approval.

This was revealed to court by Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) sixth witness Timoci Soqonaivi who has been the Rewa Provincial Council treasurer for six years.

Soqonaivi informed the court that he had made a statement to FICAC earlier about a withdrawal of $11,000 from the council’s account and a payment that was made to Suncourt Hardware Limited.

The court heard that the withdrawal took place in 2006 during the time when Kamikamica was Roko Tui Rewa and also acted as the council’s accountant.

Soqonaivi told the court he had received a phone call from Kamikamica informing him that he urgently needed the money in order to prepare for the cabinet meeting that was going to be held in two days.

The court then heard that Soqonaivi told Kamikamica that there were not enough funds in the council’s account but Kamikamica told Soqonaivi that the Fijian Affairs Board (FAB) had deposited money into the account.

The court then heard that $27,000 was deposited by FAB into the council’s account and it was too late to sign a request form for the money as the cabinet meeting was in two days time.

Soqonaivi told the court that an approval was suppose to be given by the chief executive at FAB for the money, as the money was from the Development Assistant Scheme fund and was suppose to be used for other purposes.

The court also heard that the cheques were being signed off by Kamikamica and Soqonaivi.

Meanwhile FICAC’s fifth witness Lasaro Vota told the court that all provincial councils have to abide by a certain manual.

Vota also confirmed to court that Kamikamica did not sign off a cash payment document that was presented to him earlier by FICAC lawyer Waqavonovono.

He also told the court that the Rewa Provincial Council had only one account and this account is used to receive staff salaries and other transactions regarding the council.

FICAC is being represented by Kitione Waqavonovono while Kamikamica is represented by Rajendra Chaudhry.

Kamikamica pleads not guilty to two counts of embezzlement and one count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that while employed as the Roko Tui Rewa by the Fijian Affairs Board in 2005, Kamikamica fraudulently applied $40 which he received as Development Assistant Scheme fund on account of Rewa Provincial Council for a purpose other than that for which was entrusted to him.

It is alleged that in December 2005 Kamikamica have fraudulently applied $1195 which he received as Development Assistant Scheme fund on account of Rewa Provincial Council for a purpose other than that for which was entrusted to him.

 It is alleged that in March 2006 he abused office and without lawful authority he directed that $11,000 be removed from the Development Assistance Scheme fund of Rewa Provincial Council into an imprest account for purposes other than it had been intended for which was prejudicial to the rights of Fijian Affairs Board and the Rewa Provincial Council.

The trial continues.

By Mereani Gonedua