The trial of the Registrar of the University of Fiji, Kamlesh Arya, will start on April 15.

Arya is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption with one count of abuse of office and one count of general dishonesty.

Arya appeared before Judge Justice Daniel Goundar yesterday.

It is alleged that Arya between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014, in Suva, while employed as the Registrar of the University of Fiji, and acting school manager for Bhawani Dayal Memorial Primary School, authorised loans amounting to $116,500 from the Free Education Grant provided by the Ministry of Education.

In court yesterday, FICAC lawyer Sam Savumiramira told the court that the trial was to start this week.

However, last week defence lawyer, Vijay Maharaj, asked

for a postponement since Arya’s Queen’s Counsel Ian Lloyd had a knee surgery and was not fit to travel for up to four months.

Justice Vinsent Perera had agreed to the application.

Mr Maharaj told the court that the dates indicated by Mr Lloyd QC were September or November.

Justice Goundar said Mr Lloyd QC had to make himself available because the judge decided on the dates upon his diary and availability and not the lawyers.

Mr Savumiramira told the court that FICAC would call 12 witnesses and submit 15 documents in the trial proper.

The matter was adjourned for a pre-trial conference to March 4, to check on the availability of the QC. Edited by Percy Kean

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