The case of two former employees of Water Authority of Fiji involved in the alleged fraud case was yesterday transferred to the High Court.

Former WAF Land Acquisition Officer Laisiasa Valesu faces one count each of Abuse of Office, Forgery and Obtaining a Financial Advantage alongside his accomplice Pauliasi Waite who is charged with a count of Aiding and Abetting Obtaining a Financial Advantage.

It is alleged that Valesu facilitated the processing of false payments as claims for Crop and Land Compensation for the Muanikau 5G Project and Nabukalou Project using forged Crop Compensation forms and Easement Agreements.

The forged documents were used to induce WAF public officials who accepted it as genuine and enabled the accused to obtain $334,496.18 between June 2013 and May 2016.

The second accused is alleged to have helped the first accused and acquired $26,402.38 in the process.

In delivering his Ruling, Resident Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama says that the nature of the offences committed bore a serious effect on the general public and that the High Court would be better suited to hear such a complex and lengthy case.

The matter has been adjourned to the 8th of March.