11 Jan 2017

Fiji court told Ratu Isoa owed thousands for school fees

11:42 am on 11 January 2017

A court in Fiji has been told the suspended Fiji opposition MP Ratu Isoa Tikoca owes the government about $US45,000 in school fees for his son.

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Photo: 123RF

Ratu Isoa is on trial in the Suva Magistrates Court for failing to declare his liabilities before the election in 2014.

It's alleged he didn't declare debts incurred during his time as Fiji's High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.

The Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem told the court the only debt Ratu Isoa had declared was $US236 for a car.

Ratu Isoa Tikoca

Ratu Isoa Tikoca Photo: Fiji Parliament

FBC News reports Mr Saneem said he was notified by the Finance Ministry of the outstanding debt in February 2015 and reported it to Fiji's anti corruption agency FICAC.

The defence claimed in cross-examining Mr Saneem that Ratu Isoa had already paid his debt.

The trial continues today.

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