Former National Fire Authority Board Chair John O’Connor entered a plea of ‘Not Guilty’ to charges filed by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption related to alleged corruption. 

O’Connor and Carpenters Fiji Managing Director Daniel Whippy appeared before Resident Magistrate Sufia Hamza in Suva Magistrate Court.

O’Connor faces One Count of Abuse of Office. 

The indictment alleges that between 1 January of 2018 and 28 September, 2018, whilst employed as NFA Board Chair, O’Connor, in abuse of his authority, arbitrarily directed NFA officers to amend the findings of their 30 April, 2018, fire investigation report concerning the April 8, 2018, fire at the MH Warehouse in Walu Bay. 

This action, it is alleged, was prejudicial to the rights of the NFA and intended to confer a benefit.

Mr Whippy is charged with One (1) Count of Counseling for the Omission of the Offence. 

The indictment alleges that Whippy, as Director of W.R. Carpenters (South Pacific) PTE Limited, counseled O’Connor to amend the findings of the 30 April, 2018, Fire Investigation Report.

Whippy’s counsel, Suruj Sharma, informed the court that his client would be traveling overseas for medical treatment from 2 February to 1 March, 2025, for knee surgery. 

FICAC prosecutor, Lavenia Ravuikadavu, did not object to the travel and the Stop Departure Order was lifted for Whippy from 30 January, 2025, to 2 March, 2025.

Magistrate Hamza granted Whippy permission to travel for his medical procedure. 

The matter is scheduled for mention to fix hearing on 3 March.