The leader of one of Fiji's political parties, Sitiveni Rabuka, who faces a court trial next week, says he's prepared to face the law.
The SODELPA leader has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsely declaring his assets and liabilities to Fiji's Supervisor of Elections and for breaching bail conditions.
The leader of Fiji's opposition SODELPA party Sitiveni Rabuka announces his party's candidates to contest next month's elections. Photo: RNZ / Kelvin Anthony
The trial starts on Monday, a month before the general election.
A jail conviction of six months or more would make Mr Rabuka ineligible to contest the polls.
He was asked whether he was ready to go to jail.
"Not by deliberately doing something that is illegal. They (the courts) will have to make sure and find out and convict me on legality ... I am going to do what is right and whatever the consequences of doing what is right might be."
Mr Rabuka said SODELPA was very aware of the scrutiny the party was under ahead of the 14 November polls.
"We must continue to act responsibly and carry out our campaigns and activities according to the law," he said.
A conviction would disrupt SODELPA's election campaign to defeat Frank Bainimarama's FijiFirst Party which won a landslide victory in the last elections.
SODELPA's president Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has meanwhile confirmed he would temporarily act as party leader if that role was vacated for any reason.
He said the party's management then has seven days to appoint an acting leader until a new party leader was selected.
The Fiji Sun reported Mr Rabuka would be represented by former Fiji Court of Appeal judge, Ian Lloyd QC.
If Mr Rabuka is found guilty he is liable for a fine of up to $US23,300 and up to ten years in jail.
A month before the 2014 election, another FijiFirst opponent and former prime minister, Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry, had his appeal against a fraud sentence and conviction dismissed making him ineligible to contest the polls.
