Former Fiji National Provident Fund chief executive officer Olota Rokovunisei’s trial finally started this morning at the Suva High court.
Rokovunisei is charged with extortion by public officers and abuse of office.
He is charged alongside former deputy general manager Foana Nemani.
They are alleged to have defrauded FNPF by authorising payment of responsibility allowance for each other totalling $33,333 to Rokovunisei and $35,911 to Nemani without authorisation.
First to take the witness stand this morning was former board member Himmat Lodhia.
Lodhia told the court that all salaries for FNPF senior executives are confirmed and endorsed by the board and later taken to the Higher Salaries Commission.
The trial which is expected to take three weeks continues this afternoon.
