"Kai, LQ (Laisenia Qarase) did not help me at all to buy shares from FHL. I bought 100,000 shares from FHL in 1992 at $1, from my savings of $20k, and top up loan from NBF of $80k. Mr Mosese Waqavonovono, who was NBF manager Samabula Branch facilitated my loan. I was ADC to Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau then. No help from Qarase or anybody else to help me buy shares with FHL. Siti Weleilakeba was CEO FHL at the time. I gave him the $100,000 in his office before the $1 shares was closed." Raivoce to Fijileaks Founding Editor |  |
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 | CONFESSION: The chairman of the Fijian Holdings Ltd and an influential mover and shaker in PAP, the flamboyant SAKIUSA RAIVOCE and I have been very, very, close friends and staunch opponents of the Bainimarama-Khaiyum dictatorship since the 5 December 2006 coup. |  |
* However, it has never stopped me from holding my good old friend to account, if and when I felt the need to confront him through Fijileaks.
*No holds barred.
*He has always taken it on the chin without threatening retaliation through the legal system, unlike PAP's Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, who some months ago warned me,
'Victor, I will sue you, if you publish it'.
*As a reputable news and investigative website, I had dared to ask Kamikamica if the allegations on the social media that his wife's trip to NZ (she was spotted with him) was on the taxpayers expense. He denied the social media reports but went on to threaten me with lawsuit.
*Of course, I politely reminded Kamikamica that while we fought the Bai-Kai dictatorship, he was no where to be seen for years.
*In any case, I reminded him that I had fought throughout the 1990s for his late father Joseva Kamikamica (RIP, again a very dear old friend) to become Prime Minister instead of the Coupist Sitiveni Rabuka.
*But I respected Manoa's decision to join PAP and to serve as one of three Deputy Prime Ministers under Sitiveni Rabuka.
*Meanwhile, for some years now, I have been inundated with claims against Raivoce regarding the FHL Class A shares. The claims are as follows:
*He (Raivoce) was one of the major beneficiaries of LQ’s (Laisenia Qarase's) Fijian Holdings Class A shares scheme which netted him $100,000 without having to pay anything upfront. (LQ himself acquired $200,000 for his Q10 family).
*LQ rewarded him because in 1992, R[aivoce] succeeded in sweet talking then President Rt Sir Penaia (R was his ADC at the time) to buy $180,000 class A shares for his Qeleni Holdings Ltd in order to dissuade Rt Mara from calling for an inquiry into the corrupt Class A scheme at the GCC.
*Rt Mara was determined to move a motion at the GCC in 1991/2 for such an investigation to be carried out (How come Class B shareholders like Lau and the other 14 provinces have to pay 1/3 upfront while some individuals in Lau like LQ, Raivoce, Sitiveni Weleilakeba, Isikeli Mataitoga, Tavola, etc were given the whole $200,000, $100,000 without having to pay anything up front.
*Just before Rt Mara was going to move his motion, he was given a list of Class A shareholders and right at the top of the list was his tavale's name, Rt Sir Penaia, so he (Ratu Mara) threw the list away and walked out of the GCC meeting.
*Victor, in 1991, an acquaintance of yours went to inquire at FDB to buy shares when David Toganivalu (now Acting DPP) was Desk Officer and he actually recommended it to him but when he consulted LQ by phone from his office, he was told to inform your friend that the sales of those shares had closed.
*Yet, two weeks later LQ approached Raivoce for Rt Penaia to buy $180,000 shares for his Qeleni Holdings.
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SAKIUSA RAIVOCE RESPONDS TO THE ABOVE CLAIMS:
"Kai, This is not true. I cannot influence my Chiefs to buy shares from FHL. Lau Province is the only Province out of the 14 x Provinces in Fiji that does not have any shares in FHL (2022 FHL Annual Report refers). LQ (Laisenia Qarase) did not help me at all to buy shares from FHL. I bought 100,000 shares from FHL in 1992 at $1, from my savings of $20k, and top up loan from NBFof $80k. Mr Mosese Waqavonovono, who was NBF manager Samabula Branch facilitated my loan. I was ADC to Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau then. No help from Qarase or anybody else to help me buy shares with FHL. Siti Weleilakeba was CEO FHL at the time. I gave him the $100,000 in his office before the $1 shares was closed."
Raivoce to Fijileaks Founding Editor
LAU PROVINCIAL COUNCIL HAS NO SHARES IN THE FHL, 2022 Report
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"Laisenia Qarase, you have been convicted of 6 Counts of "Abuse of Office" for gain punishable under section 111 of the Penal Code Cap 17 and of 3 Counts of "Discharge of Duty with Respect to Property in which he has a Private Interest" punishable in terms of section 109 of the Penal Code. The facts are that the FHL was established as a limited liability company to be the investment vehicle of the indigenous people in Fiji and to accelerate and broaden their participation in commerce and industries. You were the Financial Advisor of the Fijian Affairs Board (FAB) and Great Council of Chiefs (GCC). You were appointed to Directorship of the Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) board to represent Class B shares of FHL by the Minister of Fijian Affairs. Fijian Affairs Board being a government entity held Class B shares of FHL. On behalf of the companies Q-Ten Investments Ltd, (Q-Ten), Cicia Plantations Co-operation Society Ltd. (CPCS), and Mavana Investments Ltd. (Mavana), you applied for allotment of Class A shares of FHL. You also facilitated the approval of the issuance and allotment of Class A shares to the three companies Q-Ten, CPCS and Mavana. It was done in priority to other eligible Provincial and Tikina Councils, FAB and indigenous Fijian people. In doing so, you failed to disclose your interest and the relationship with the 3 companies to FHL, FAB or GCC. Your acts were prejudicial to the rights of Provincial and Tikina Councils, FAB and all other indigenous Fijian people. You also attended and participated at the board meetings of FHL at which the board decided on payment of dividends to those 3 companies in which you have private interest. On Counts No. 1 – 6 "Abuse of Office" you are convicted of a felony on each count. When imposing the sentence I also take into account the absence of remorse or repentance by you. This is a case which warrants an immediate custodial sentence as mentioned before. Therefore your final sentence is 12 months imprisonment."
Fiji High Court, Sentencing, 3 August 2012
Once again, the fingerprint of Coupist Rabuka lies behind Qarase TRIAL
By VICTOR LAL
After Sitiveni Rabuka's 1987 coups, the late Laisenia Qarase was called in by the Mara led interim government to help salvage and rebuild the shattered economy. Obliging, Qarase introduced a nine-point plan which oversaw extended government assistance to i-taukei Fijians and the creation of the Fijian Holdings Ltd. In 1994, Qarase became chairman of Fiji Television but clashed with the Rabuka government for not consulting him over its plans to introduce US investment in the television company. In May 2006 his SDL party won the general election but, as we all know, Frank Bainimarama overthrew the SDL-FLP multi-ethnic government.
In 2011, Bainimarama regime brought retrospective charges against Qarase, accusing him of applying for Class A FHL shares and then facilitated the issuance and allotment of the shares to Cicia Plantation Co-op Society Ltd, Q-Ten Investments Ltd and Mavana Investments Ltd. Qarase was financial adviser for the Fijian Affairs Board and the now disbanded Great Council of Chiefs, as well as director of FHL. He was charged with six counts of abuse of office and three counts of discharge of duty with respect to a property in which he had a private interest. These were charges against him while he was the Director of FHL.
SITIVENI JITOKO WELEILAKEBA:
A close associate of Laisenia Qarase, and Chief Executive of FHL, Sitiveni Weleilakeba, also secured a loan of FJ$120,000 from the FDB on 17 March 1992 to buy FHL shares for FJ$150,000 (Office of Registrar of Companies 1997).
He was former FHL Secretary and CEO. In 2008, he was charged by FICAC with one count of giving false information by a public servant. FICAC told the Suva Magistrates Court that on 27 October 1992, Weleilakeba had given false information to the Registrar of Companies thereby causing the Registrar to declare that FHL was a public company. Later, Weleilakeba was charged jointly with Qarase but in 2011, FICAC informed the Suva High Court that FICAC had considered representations made by defence counsel CAESAR LATEEF to review the charges against his client Weleilakeba.
FICAC prosecutor Vinsent Perera stated that based on the grounds and the materials submitted by Lateef and a plain statement made by Weleilakeba, FICAC had decided to discontinue the proceedings against Weleilakeba. He was discharged of one count of Conspiracy to Effect an Unlawful Purpose that is to Contravene the Provisions of the Comapnies Cap Act, one count of Forgery and one count of Uteering a Forged Document after FICAC filed a Nolle Prosqui.
FICAC informed the Suva High Court that Weleilakeba would become a State Witness against deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. So, he did, and Qarase was convicted and sent to prison.
After Sitiveni Rabuka's 1987 coups, the late Laisenia Qarase was called in by the Mara led interim government to help salvage and rebuild the shattered economy. Obliging, Qarase introduced a nine-point plan which oversaw extended government assistance to i-taukei Fijians and the creation of the Fijian Holdings Ltd. In 1994, Qarase became chairman of Fiji Television but clashed with the Rabuka government for not consulting him over its plans to introduce US investment in the television company. In May 2006 his SDL party won the general election but, as we all know, Frank Bainimarama overthrew the SDL-FLP multi-ethnic government.
In 2011, Bainimarama regime brought retrospective charges against Qarase, accusing him of applying for Class A FHL shares and then facilitated the issuance and allotment of the shares to Cicia Plantation Co-op Society Ltd, Q-Ten Investments Ltd and Mavana Investments Ltd. Qarase was financial adviser for the Fijian Affairs Board and the now disbanded Great Council of Chiefs, as well as director of FHL. He was charged with six counts of abuse of office and three counts of discharge of duty with respect to a property in which he had a private interest. These were charges against him while he was the Director of FHL.
SITIVENI JITOKO WELEILAKEBA:
A close associate of Laisenia Qarase, and Chief Executive of FHL, Sitiveni Weleilakeba, also secured a loan of FJ$120,000 from the FDB on 17 March 1992 to buy FHL shares for FJ$150,000 (Office of Registrar of Companies 1997).
He was former FHL Secretary and CEO. In 2008, he was charged by FICAC with one count of giving false information by a public servant. FICAC told the Suva Magistrates Court that on 27 October 1992, Weleilakeba had given false information to the Registrar of Companies thereby causing the Registrar to declare that FHL was a public company. Later, Weleilakeba was charged jointly with Qarase but in 2011, FICAC informed the Suva High Court that FICAC had considered representations made by defence counsel CAESAR LATEEF to review the charges against his client Weleilakeba.
FICAC prosecutor Vinsent Perera stated that based on the grounds and the materials submitted by Lateef and a plain statement made by Weleilakeba, FICAC had decided to discontinue the proceedings against Weleilakeba. He was discharged of one count of Conspiracy to Effect an Unlawful Purpose that is to Contravene the Provisions of the Comapnies Cap Act, one count of Forgery and one count of Uteering a Forged Document after FICAC filed a Nolle Prosqui.
FICAC informed the Suva High Court that Weleilakeba would become a State Witness against deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. So, he did, and Qarase was convicted and sent to prison.
The late Ratu Timoci Vesikula
Another ghost from Rabuka's 1987 Coups also testified against Qarase. Vesikula told the Qarase trial that he had been the Minister for Fijian Affairs and Regional Development from 1992 June to October 1993 and was also the Deputy Prime Minister. He had also been a member of the GCC established under the Fijian Affairs Act. He stated that the FAB was the Secretariat of the GCC and explained the role of the GCC. He set out the purpose of establishing FHL which was in 1984 being the need for greater Fijian participation in areas of industrial and commerce in Fiji for the Fijian people to contribute more to the economy of the nation.
He also spoke about the Fijian Society being communalistic where everything was shared. In June 1992 Qarase was already the Financial Advisor to the FAB and the GCC. Qarase had been involved in the establishment of FHL from the very beginning and was appointed as a Director to represent the Class B shares. He had expected Qarase to be the protector of the interests of the Fijian Affairs and the GCC, the institutions of the Fijians, Provincial Councils, Tikina Councils and Village Councils.
Qarase was in FHL as a Director on appointment of the FAB to protect the interests of the Fijian people at large. Vesikula said that it was Qarase's fiduciary duty to protect the interests of the Fijian Affairs, the GCC and other Fijian Institutions under them. Though the Minister of Fijian Affairs was the ultimate protector, as Financial Advisor to the FAB and to the GCC, the Financial Advisor had a greater responsibility there because of that role. He had not come across any declaration of interests by the Appellant in respect of Q-Ten, CPCS and Mavana in the files of the Ministry of Fijian Affairs nor in the GCC.
When he assumed office, Vesikula had occasion to see the file pertaining to FHL shares and was shocked to see that 80% of A Class shares were owned by Fijian families and the Provincial Councils, NLTB, FAB and the Koula people owned only 20% shares as the Company was established for Fijian Institutions on behalf of the Fijian people.
Another ghost from Rabuka's 1987 Coups also testified against Qarase. Vesikula told the Qarase trial that he had been the Minister for Fijian Affairs and Regional Development from 1992 June to October 1993 and was also the Deputy Prime Minister. He had also been a member of the GCC established under the Fijian Affairs Act. He stated that the FAB was the Secretariat of the GCC and explained the role of the GCC. He set out the purpose of establishing FHL which was in 1984 being the need for greater Fijian participation in areas of industrial and commerce in Fiji for the Fijian people to contribute more to the economy of the nation.
He also spoke about the Fijian Society being communalistic where everything was shared. In June 1992 Qarase was already the Financial Advisor to the FAB and the GCC. Qarase had been involved in the establishment of FHL from the very beginning and was appointed as a Director to represent the Class B shares. He had expected Qarase to be the protector of the interests of the Fijian Affairs and the GCC, the institutions of the Fijians, Provincial Councils, Tikina Councils and Village Councils.
Qarase was in FHL as a Director on appointment of the FAB to protect the interests of the Fijian people at large. Vesikula said that it was Qarase's fiduciary duty to protect the interests of the Fijian Affairs, the GCC and other Fijian Institutions under them. Though the Minister of Fijian Affairs was the ultimate protector, as Financial Advisor to the FAB and to the GCC, the Financial Advisor had a greater responsibility there because of that role. He had not come across any declaration of interests by the Appellant in respect of Q-Ten, CPCS and Mavana in the files of the Ministry of Fijian Affairs nor in the GCC.
When he assumed office, Vesikula had occasion to see the file pertaining to FHL shares and was shocked to see that 80% of A Class shares were owned by Fijian families and the Provincial Councils, NLTB, FAB and the Koula people owned only 20% shares as the Company was established for Fijian Institutions on behalf of the Fijian people.
REPRODUCED from Fiji Sun, 31 October 2008
From Fijileaks Archive, 4 Febraury 2022
