Former National Fire Authority Board Executive, John O’Connor and Director of Carpenters Fiji Limited, Daniel Whippy, appeared before Magistrate Seini Puamau this morning.

The two are charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption for corruption-related offences.

Suva Magistrate Seini Puamau questioned the disclosures filed and served in the alleged corruption case against Former National Fire Authority Board Executive John O’Connor and Director of Carpenters Fiji Limited, Daniel Whippy.

Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Lawyer Sera Fatafehi presented 157 documents in the disclosures

Magistrate Puamau highlighted to Fatafehi that there seems to be a disconnection between the charges and the volume of evidence she provided as disclosures.

Fatafehi informed the court that the disclosures include series of communications between O’connor and Whippy, including telephonic communication and emails.

Magistrate Puamau said she is worried that the series of offenses was rolled in one.

Fatafehi said that FICAC will take that into consideration.

The defense counsels for both the defendents requested the court for three months to go through the materials.

O’Connor is represented by Roylesh Nand of Lajendra Lawyers, while Whippy is represented by Suruj Sharma from Patel Sharma Lawyers and Steven Stanton, a Senior counsel from NSW, Australia.

Meanwhile, the stop departure order has been lifted for Whippy from the 2nd to the 6th of May, as he will be travelling overseas.

The court heard that Whippy will be travelling again in June and his matter will be called for bail review on the 7th of June.

O’Connor is charged with one count of abuse of office for gain while Whippy is charged with one count of counseling the commission of an offense.

It is alleged between 1 January and 28 September 2018, O’Connor whilst being employed in the Civil Service as the Chair of the National Fire Authority Board, in abuse of the authority of his office, did an arbitrary act, namely directing the officers of the NFA to amend the findings in their 30 April, 2018 fire investigation report, for the fire that occurred on the 8th of April, 2018 at the MH Warehouse at Walu Bay, which was an act prejudicial to the rights of the NFA for the purposes of gain.

It is alleged that between 1 January and 28 September 2018, Whippy counselled O’ Connor for the commission of an offence.

The case has been adjourned to the 17 October for plea.