A former senior executive of Telecom Fiji Limited (TFL) charged with a corruption-related matter has been allowed to travel overseas after the Suva Magistrates Court granted a temporary uplift of the stop departure order against him.
Sanjay Kaba, the Managing Director of Houng Lee Kaba Jacob Limited and former Director of Telecom Fiji Limited appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Sufia Hamza, seeking a temporary uplift of the stop departure order so that he can travel overseas for work.
Mr. Kaba’s counsel, Wasu Pillay says his client, who recently returned from overseas will be travelling to and from overseas between 5 April 2025 and 30 August 2025.
Mr. Pillay says Mr. Kaba deposited his passport back to the Court when he returned from overseas last month.
He adds that the defence is not seeking to have the stop departure order uplifted entirely, but that Mr. Kaba will uplift his passport from the Court Registry when he needs to travel.
Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) State Counsel Nimisha Shankar did not object to the defence’s request.
SRM Hamza granted the bail variation application and bail has been extended for the accused.
Mr. Kaba faces one (1) count of obtaining a financial advantage.
The charge arises from allegations that, between 27 January 2017 and 20 January 2019, while serving as a Board member for both TFL and Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Limited (ATH), Mr. Kaba submitted a bid through his company, Houng Lee Kaba Jacobs (HLK Jacob) Pte Limited, to provide Project Management services for TFL’s new office and data centre project.
It is alleged that Mr. Kaba obtained a financial advantage totalling $766,327.22, knowing that HLK Jacob was ineligible to receive the funds, due to Mr. Kaba’s failure to declare his interest as director of the company.
The matter has been adjourned to 6 May 2025 for mention.