THE mysterious Aussie directors of HeliPro Fiji Ltd helicopters stand accused of swindling previous clients. And Dan Lobendahn, the rugby man seen trotting around with Frank Bainimarama, is one of two local directors. The other is Peter Howard. While Graeme Hedge, HeliPro Fiji's country manager, is listed as secretary, his brother Geoffrey, is one of the three Aussie directors. On 10 August 2012 HeliPro Fiji was incorporated under the Companies Act. The Registrar of Companies was notified that the registered office of the company is situated at Lot 12, Nukubalvu Rd, Savusavu, Fiji, and the postal address is P O Box 462, Savusavu. The Directors were listed as follows: Peter Anthony Schollary, 1 Kilara Court, Croydon, Victoria, Australia; Michael Charles Barbieri, 127 Overport Rd, Frankston; Geoffrey Lewis Hedge, 12 Pioneer St, Mittagong, NSW, Australia. The two Fiji directors were listed as Daniel Lobendahn, P O Box 422, Suva, and Peter Howard, P O Box 1401, Suva. The Company Secretary was listed as Graeme Hedge, P O Box 461, Savusavu. On 6 August 2012, Lobendahn had declared as follows: "I, Daniel Lobendahn of 10 Fletcher Rd, Suva, do solemnly and sincerely declare that I am the person named in the Articles of Association as a director of HeliPro Fiji Ltd and that all the requirements of the Companies Act, in respect of matters precedent to the registration of the said company and incidental thereto have been complied with". Howard gave his home address as 29 Garvey Rd, Suva. The declaration was witnessed by Suva lawyer Laisa Lagilevu of Lagilevu Law. She is the former FICAC prosecutor who was charged with prosecuting executives of the Native Land Trust Board on charges of abuse of office and fraud - the former NLTB general manager Kalivati Bakani and Keni Dakuidreketi. She was also seeking before Justice Daniel Goundar to consolidate a similar case against Bakani and Dakuidreketi with that against former prime minister Laisenia Qarase. Peter Howard is a local lawyer. He has an office in the same building as Laisa Lagilevu. Schollary held 132,000 shares, Barbieri, 132,000 and Geoffrey Hedge 136,000 in HeliPro Fiji. The share capital of the company was to be $3million divided into 3,000,000 shares of $1 each. But those in the helicopter business say the Fiji choppers which are a favourite mode of transport for Bainimarama and his regime is estimated at $21million - $7million a chopper! What about the insurance? The insiders say the chopper directors are taking the people of Fiji - via their connections with Bainimarama and the regime - for a very choppy and possibly financially ruinous high ride - reportedly charging the regime $5,000 an hour for their services. In December 2012, the Emergency Helicopter Services Limited (EHSL) claimed it had partnered with HeliPro Fiji to provide assistance for search and rescue operations at sea and medical evacuation. The two not-for-profit organizations were to work closely with the Ministry of Health, DISMAC, Fiji Navy, St John Ambulance, Fiji Red Cross, Fiji Police Force and the National Fire Authority. HeliPro Fiji's country manager Graeme Hedge said the company would provide free service to the Fiji community. Now it has emerged that both, Lobendahn and Howard, are directors of the same two organizations - HeliPro and EHSL in Fiji. And Graeme Hedge is company secretary. | Graeme Hedge is yet to reply to our inquiries regarding the status of his obtaining money by false pretenses charge in 2010; two years before he and others set up Helipro Fiji Ltd in August 2012. |
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Nanise Loanakadavu, Fiji Times
Saturday, July 13, 2013 THREE men are still traumatised after they were forced out of their vehicle, beaten and held at gunpoint along Vunakece Rd in Namadi Heights on Wednesday afternoon. Seci Kiviti, 52, Uraia Pomau, 41, and Vuli Vakaloloma, 42, were returning from a farm next to MH Superfresh in Tamavua about 3pm to pick a spade to help them build a shed for their aunt's funeral at Tikaram Rd when their vehicle was chased by a four-wheel-drive with three men inside. The three said they were stopped, forced out of the car and made to lie on the road. Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro confirmed they had received a report at the Samabula Police Station on Thursday afternoon. She said the report they received was that the three men were held at gunpoint on Wednesday afternoon. "Investigations will commence," Ms Naisoro said. The men said they also lodged a complaint with the RFMF. Land Force Commander Lieutenant Mosese Tikoitoga said he would not comment until investigations were completed. He said the officers who received the report would not be able to release any information. "They will conduct their own investigations, interview the people, they will write a report and will submit it to me," Lt-Col Tikoitoga said. Mr Kiviti was still in shock from the incident and demanded an explanation. "When they told us to lie down, I refused because they did not say or mention anything about any operation," Mr Kiti said. "I was so scared when one of them took out a gun and pointed it towards me while speaking in iTaukei language saying: "Dou va davora i ra, ke sega biuta i tuba nona mona' (make him lie down, if not put his brain out)". One of the victims said he identified one of the men to be a military officer because he was his schoolmate at a prominent all-boys school. Mr Pomau said 10 minutes later, another vehicle arrived with four officers of the Strike Back team. A witness, who wished to remain anonymous, said he ran outside when he heard the men shouting. "When I came outside, I saw three men lying on the road with a man standing next to them holding a knife." Three youths, who were cleaning their compound, rushed to their house when they saw one of the three men beating up the victims was holding a pistol. Mr Pomau said they were lucky otherwise it would have been a double funeral for their family. He said the men later apologised after realising the three were on their way to a funeral when they were accompanied to the venue.
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