31 Jul 2012

Qarase convicted in Fiji abuse of office case

2:46 pm on 31 July 2012

The Suva High Court has found Fiji's ousted prime minister Laisenia Qarase guilty of all nine charges against him.

FBC News reports Justice Priyantha Fernando made the ruling a short while ago.

This follows a unanimous guilty verdict for Qarase by assessors yesterday.

They found the 72 year old guilty on six charges of abuse of office, and three charges relating to discharge of duty as a public servant, for property in which he had a private interest.

Reports say the SDL Party leader has been freed on bail and has been ordered to report to the police daily.

The nine charges were brought by Fiji's Independent Commission Against Corruption, and go back to the early 1990s.