The Suva High Court has granted more time to defense counsels to file written submissions in the appeal case of Aseri Vakaloloma and Benjamin Padarath.

The two appeared before Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza yesterday.

Vakaloloma was represented by his counsel Filimoni Vosarogo however Padarath’s lawyer was not present in court.

The court heard that the counsels of the two accused had not filed and served their written submissions.

Both defense counsels have been given time until March 28th to file and serve their written submissions.

A new hearing date for the appeal will be set on April 18th.

Vakaloloma is appealing his conviction and sentence.

FICAC is appealing against Padarath and Vakaloloma’s sentence, which it says was not sufficient given the seriousness of the offence.

In August, 2018, Vakaloloma was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years for a charge of forgery alongside his co-accused, Padarath, who was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment suspended for two years.

Both men were convicted after a full trial for forging the Articles of Association of BECP Engineering Construction (Fiji) Limited between October 14, 2009 and December 31, 2009 with a false page 27 by altering the subscription for Adishwar Padarath to Voreqe Bainimarama to be used as genuine.