19 Jul 2012

Fiji court to rule in Qarase abuse of office case

12:44 pm on 19 July 2012

Fiji's ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is expected to learn this afternoon whether he will have to stand trial on fraud-related charges.

The lawyer acting for Mr Qarase put forward submissions in court in support of an application for a permanent stay on the case, brought by Fiji's Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Mr Qarase has been charged with six counts of abuse of office and three counts of improperly discharging his duty with respect to a property in which he has a private interest.

The alleged offences date back to the 1990's in his role at Fiji Holdings Ltd before he entered politics.