A Naitasiri farmer has testified that former FijiFirst Member of Parliament, Vijendra Prakash was not living at his farm but he did visit once a week.

Prakash is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count each of false information to a public servant and obtaining financial advantage.

He is alleged to have obtained financial advantage in breach of the Parliamentary Remunerations Act of 2014.

He is accused of falsely stating that his permanent place of residence was in Waidracia, Vunidawa, Nabuni, Naluwai, Naita- siri, and had allegedly obtained $33,670 between August 2019 and March 2020.

The trial is presided over by the Anti-Corruption High Court Judge Justice Dr Thushara Kumarage.

On the seventh day of trial, FICAC’s 16th witness Emoni George Yamuyamu told the court that he lived in Nubuni Farm for over 12 years after he moved back to Naitasiri from Suva.

He said his farm was next to Prakash’s farm and the view from his place of residence was clear to the farm house of Prakash.

He said Prakash’s farm house was an open house, without louver blades on the window and had no electricity connection.

Mr Yamuyamu said the farmhouse had been there from the previous owner before Prakash purchased the farm.

He testified that no one lived in that farm house and every time he went to the place, it was always empty.

He said he had known Prakash for the last 12 years and that Prakash used to go his farm once a week in 2019 and 2020 as per his knowledge, but he did not recall Prakash sleeping there.

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