News
Charters Charged for Aiding and Abetting
Posted by Media Team 23 February 2026
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption confirms that Mr Charlie Cobham Charters appeared before the Suva Magistrates’ Court in Suva today.
Mr Charters has been charged with 2 counts of Aiding and Abetting, contrary to section 45 of the Crimes Act 2009 read together with section 13G (1) of the FICAC Act 2007.
Count 1 alleges that between 2 November 2025 and 14 December 2025, Mr Charters intentionally aided and abetted a person who was at the material time an officer of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption at Suva to commit an offence under section 13G(1) of the FICAC Act 2007, namely the publication of official information relating to the functions of the Commission without the written permission of the Commissioner, by posting that official information on his Facebook account known as “Charlie Charters”.
Count 2 alleges that on 2 February 2026, Mr Charters intentionally aided and abetted a person who was at the material time an officer of the Commission at Suva to commit an offence under section 13G (1) of the FICAC Act 2007, namely the publication of official information relating to the functions of the Commission without the written permission of the Commissioner, by posting that official information on the same Facebook account.
Mr. Charters appeared before Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne.
FICAC State Counsel Rusiate Doidoi informed the court that the First Phase Disclosures have been served to the accused.
The defence, which included Seforan Faritaki, Wylie Clarke, Laurel Vaurasi, Richard Naidu and Subhash Parshotam, requested for 7 days for FICAC to present the Second Phase Disclosures.
Mr. Charters was then given strict bail conditions including not to interfere with State witnesses, surrender his travel documents and a Stop Departure Order has been issued.
He was also given a non-cash bail bond of $2,000 with a surety provided.
The defence had objected to bail conditions for its client.
The court issued standard bail conditions and advised the defence that if they have an issue, then they can make an application for bail variation.
The matter has been adjourned 2 March 2026 for mention to check on the Second Phase Disclosures.
Section 13G of the FICAC Act makes it an offence for an officer or former officer of the Commission to divulge official information without written authorisation.
Section 45 of the Crimes Act provides that a person who aids and abets the commission of an offence is taken to have committed that offence and is punishable accordingly.
The Commission has not issued any statement because the matter was under active, ongoing investigation.
It would have been inappropriate and contrary to established investigative practice to discuss a live investigation while inquiries were continuing, irrespective of commentary circulating on social media.
The Commission remains bound by its statutory mandate and its duty to conduct investigations independently and without external influence.
The matter is now properly before the Court and will proceed in accordance with due process.
The Commission will not be making further comments while proceedings are ongoing.
