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Tuibeqa pleads not guilty, challenges FICAC interview

Posted by Media Team 10 January 2025

Samuela Tuibeqa, a former employee of the Ministry of Health & Medical Services, appeared before Suva Resident Magistrate Yogesh Prasad today and entered a plea of not guilty to one count of Obtaining a Financial Advantage.

The charge, brought by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), alleges that between 1 August 2019 and 31 December 2019, while employed at the Ministry, Mr. Tuibeqa fraudulently claimed Time and a Half, Double Time, Meal Claims, and Country Allowances to which he was not entitled, amounting to $7,355.86.

Legal Aid Commission lawyer Vitori Mua Panapasa, the counsel for Mr Tuibeqa, informed the court that he will file voir dire grounds. Mr Panapasa informed the court that FICAC had conducted a lengthy caution interview with his client, posing approximately 500 questions. The defence challenged the validity of a caution interview conducted by FICAC with Mr Tuibeqa, during which 500 questions were posed with the breach of the standard interview procedures.

Resident Magistrate Prasad granted the defence 21 days to draft their voir dire grounds and a further 21 days for FICAC to prepare their response.

A Pre-Trial Conference is scheduled for 28 February 2025. The court indicated that if all matters are resolved during the Pre-Trial Conference, the case will proceed to trial in November.

FICAC was represented by Junior State Counsel Sameea Nisa.