Leung refuses to apply for licence under regime

Suva lawyer and former Fiji Law Society president, Graham Leung, says he will not re-apply for a practising certificate from Fiji's interim regime.

Leung's lawyer, Jay Raniga, has relayed this to the Suva Magistrates Court.

Leung was representing sacked Fiji National Provident Fund CEO, Olota Rokovunisei, and his Deputy CEO, Foana Nemani. Both have been charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption for offences allegedly committed during their tenure of employment. They have consistently denied the allegations.

Jay Raniga informed the Court that Leung would no longer be able to represent the duo because he was not going to re-apply for his Practicing Certificate. Their case has been adjourned to 20th July when they are required to front in court with their new lawyer.

Leung is the first lawyer to publicly refuse to abide by the Legal Practitioners Decree, which replaces the Legal Practitioners Act and takes away the powers of the Fiji Law Society, which had until the promulgation of the Decree, been the regulatory authority for lawyers.

More than 60 of the 320 lawyers have re-applied for a Practicing Certificate from the new chief registrar, Ana Rokomokoti.