The Commission of Inquiry into the Special Agriculture Business Leases heard that an officer from the Department of Lands and Physical Planning illegally carried out a Land Investigation Report (LIR) on more than one thousand hectares of land which is the subject of the inquiry, reports the Post Courier.

The CoI also heard that he had conspired with another Lands officer in carrying out the LIR that covers 1058 hectares of land in portion 2485 C of Iarogala 1 and 2 in Papa Village of Central Province.

Senior Lands officer, Ata Renagi took the witness stand last week and claimed that his colleague (named) had collaborated and carried out a LIR without following due process.

“The LIR is defective and illegal,” he told the Inquiry and proceeded to explain that LIR’s were supposed to be carried out by the Provincial Lands officers as they were the Custodians and were mandated to do so, only allowing the national office to intervene in its absence. He said this was evident from the LIR that certain families had not signed in the correct place and the fact that one or two people signed on behalf of all landowners.

Mr Renagi claimed that this indicated that some of the LIR’s had been tampered with.

“So really, the lands officer dealing with this did not address the people and explain the SABL process and the issue of consent, therefore it was done illegally,” he said.

Mr Renagi, who claims to be a landowner from Papa Village, said he had conducted an awareness program in his capacity as provincial lands officer when he carried out the LIR in 2009 and distributed LIR forms to all of the 14 groups of Papa villages, explaining carefully what the SABL process was.

He said that of the 14, only 12 were completed and he had then delivered the LIR’s himself to the Lands Department explaining to the landowners that at all times, their rights must be respected.

“The Provincial Administrator then went ahead and endorsed it but the title was issued to Veadi Holdings Limited, despite the Central Provincial Affairs stating that the company could not hold the title as they only represented a minority of landowners,” he said.

Chief Commissioner presiding over the case, John Numapo asked the witness whether he felt comfortable giving evidence against his colleague to which he indicated that it was okay.

The lawyer presiding over the matter, Natasha Koisen further reminded the witnesses that should he face certain repercussions or face threats over the evidence given, that he was to report the matter immediately to the Commission of Inquiry. “It will be regarded as contempt of the inquiry and carries a penalty,” she said.

The Inquiry is also hearing another SABL in the same area that also covers parts of Papa and Boera village was leased to umbrella company, Konekaru Limited.