Sitiveni Rabuka's lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo has told Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa that they will be engaging an overseas counsel who they want to be present on the next date the matter is called.
He said the Queens Counsel which they will be engaging will canvas the remaining issues for the defence.
Vosarogo asked the court for 14 days to also allow them to do the necessary paper work for the appearance of the Queens Counsel.
When asked outside court, Vosarogo said they are unable to disclose the name of the Queens Counsel at this point.
FICAC Senior Counsel Rashmi Aslam told the court that they have no objections.
He also told the court that they want both of Rabuka's cases to be dealt with simultaneously.
Aslam said they were ready to take a hearing date on the second case.
But Vosarogo said they would go with the hearing date of the substantive matter first.
Vosarogo said they want the two cases to be conducted close to each other to limit expenses.
Both of Rabuka's cases have been adjourned to the 13th of August.
Rabuka is charged by FICAC in relation to the declaration of his assets and liabilities as required under the Political Parties Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures Act.
It is alleged that Rabuka made a false declaration of assets and liabilities to the Supervisor of Elections by failing to provide information namely, the tax liability with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service in the amount of $316,956, the investment and interest income with Raghwan Construction Limited in the amount of $200,000 and $16,000 respectively and the liability with Raghwan Construction in the amount of $120,000, contrary to the Political Parties Act.
The alleged incident occurred on 29th December last year.
In the second case, he is charged with allegedly breaching bail conditions in his case.
It is alleged that Rabuka spoke to a FICAC witness in the case.
