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Court Rules Phone Data Extraction Admissible

Posted by Media Team 07 October 2026

The Suva Magistrates Court has ruled that data extracted from the mobile phone of former Vodafone Fiji Limited employee; Mr Rajneel Rakesh Kumar is admissible as evidence in the case brought by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

The ruling was delivered on 6 October 2026 by Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne

Mr Kumar faces two counts of Bribery and one count of Obtaining a Financial Advantage.

It is alleged that between 1 July 2018 and 15 December 2018, he had solicited an advantage of $7,000 and accepted an advantage of $4,000 in Suva and Nadi respectively.

The defence had challenged the admissibility of the phone data, arguing that the phone was unlawfully seized and that the data was extracted without a court order or search warrant.

After considering the evidence and submissions from both parties, the Court found that the accused had expressly and voluntarily given informed consent to the examination of his mobile phone and extraction of data.

Resident Magistrate Somaratne therefore ruled that the extracted data was lawfully obtained and admissible in evidence, dismissing the defence objection.