FICAC's MYSTERY Warrant

FICAC removed confidential documents form FIRCA last week on the basis of a "warrant" which they claim to have obtained.

FICAC has been conducting an "investigation" against Justice Daniel Fatiaki. In its desire to obatin incriminating evidence against him, FICAC removed his tax returns and other confidential documents form FIRCA.

Well, it now appears, the Chairman of FIRCA, Filipe Bole, did not see such a warranta and even if such a warrant did exist, it was not enough to remove confident ail FIRCA documents.

Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority Board chairman Filipe Bole says he never sighted the purported search warrant for the tax office for suspended Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki's tax records.

He said he thought that even a search warrant was not enough to be used to extract tax information on an individual as a Magistrate Court would not have the powers to grant the FICAC permission to confiscate the tax records of any citizen.

The mystery of FICAC's "warrant" further heightened when it was revealed that Magistrates Court Registry had no records of such an order because it did not come through them.

Sources within FIRCA reveal that FIRCA has been abuzz with rumours that FICAC agents questioned staff about documents relating to an IG Minister.

• Did FICAC fake a warrant to obatin Daniel Fatiakis tax records?
• What other information were FICAC agents after, given the controvesy over a IG Ministers reported milliions stashed away in a bank account?

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Why Majority of Lawyers WONT sign Petition

The move to gather signatures for the petition in support of Daniel Fatiaki has begun to flounder.

It appears most lawyers who did not use taxpayers money to purchase their LLB from that infamous corruption riddled joke of an institution, namely, Bond University, have decided against signing the petition.

The main movers behind the Daniel Fatiaki petition are those who benefited from having Daniel Fatiaiki as the Chief Judge. Just ask Magistrate Sunil Kumar.

Here are some reasons why lawyers are hesitant to sign the petition:

- Because Fatiaki was a coward to sign the suspension letter to formalise his suspension. He did it to protect his salary and perks. Fatiaki should have had the courage to refuse to sign the suspension letter.

- Because Fatiaki has done nothing to assist. He has not brought any proceedings to challenge his suspension and instead relies on the Law Society to fight his battles for him.

- Because Fatiaki when he was a Judge and CJ has kept litigants waiting for years with unwritten judgments while he lives the high life.

- Because Fatiaki did nothing about corrupt magistrates like Syed Mukhtar Shah

- Because Fatiaki engaged in nepotism when making magisterial appointments ie Sunil Kumar from AG's office was made a magistrate. Well known to be Fatiaki's boy and rejecetd three times by the JSC for the Deputy Registrars post, but as soon as Fatiaki was in JSC, he becomes a magistrate.

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EXCLUSIVE: A Divided Judiciary :Justice Shameen v Justice Scott

The judiciary in Fiji has been deeply and bitterly divided since 2000. In 2000, when the Labour Govt was being held hostage,the then Chief Justice Timoci Tuivaga, Scott and Fatiaki drafted the decrees.

Another group made up of Bryne, Shameem and Gates were totally opposed to the judges assisting the military.Justice Shameem was especially bitter. The two sets of judges stopped talking to each other.

Between 2000 and 2006 the bitterness between the Judges flourished and intensified. When Tuivaqa retired, Daniel Fatiaki became CJ.

Daniel Fatiaki took his revenge against Justuce Byrnes by refusing to extend Bryne's contract. Bryne (who is now in his 70's) returned to Australia.

Scott became a resident Appeal Judge. Shameem challenged in the Court of Appeal Scott listening to appeals of her decisions. Shameem lost her challenge.

This feud is now being played out in the attempts by the pro-Fatiaki group to circulate a petition and re-instate Daniel Fatiaki.

Those who received "favors" form Fatiaki during his time are pushing for him to be re-appointed.

READ ABOUT THE COUP ADVISORS IN THE NEXT PART

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