The Chief Executive of the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board and former Commerce Commission CEO Bobby Maharaj has been charged with Abuse of office.
He was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission against corruption at midday today.
Fiji One News can confirm the allegation against Bobby Maharaj was brought to the attention of the FICAC by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
It’s alleged the offence was committed whilst Maharaj was the CEO of the Commerce commission.
Maharaj’s lawyers made numerous attempts to get the courts to supress his clients name but was unsuccessful.
Avinesh Reddy told the Magistrate the people will lose faith in the organisation which hands out loans and scholarships to children on merit basis, after finding out the CEO has been charged with such an offence.
Reddy also raised the concern with the Magistrate as to how the mainstream media was alerted that his client would appear before the courts this afternoon.
Reddy also did not want the charges of his client to be read in court saying they already knew what the charges were.
Maharaj’s lawyer however admitted in court that he was not aware of the name suppression law at the time he made the application.
Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa told defence lawyer Fiji’s constitution guarantees an open court to the public.
The magistrate said many high profile people have been charged with the similar offence hence the courts did not allow a name suppression to them.
The magistrate said application for name suppression is a serious application and that lawyers cannot just rock up to the courts and make such application without knowing the law and the fundamentals behind the application.
The magistrate said name suppression is generally applied to sexual offences to protect the identity of the victim.
In his finals words the Magistrate said there will be no special treatment to high profile people and that the law applies to all.
Maharaj is on bail with an employee of the TSLB being his surety.
Maharaj cannot leave the country as a stop departure order has been placed on him.
He also has to report to the FICAC office once a month.
He will appear in court again for the second phase of disclosures on the 10th of November.