Eight people allegedly involved in a procurement scam involving close to $400, 000 appeared in the Nasinu Magistrates court today.

Former Nasinu Town Council employees and executives from client companies appeared in the Nasinu Magistrates Court today.

The eight charged by FICAC are alleged to have defrauded the Town Council over four-hundred-thousand dollars.

The eight people charged appeared in four separate cases and it’s alleged that their corrupt activity took place over the span of five years.

Former Information Technology Officer with the Nasinu Town Council, Pauliasi Bainivalu, is charged with conspiracy to defraud, bribery, general dishonesty and destroying evidence. It’s alleged he was behind purchases based on false quotations and purchase orders from various companies.

He’s believed to have solicited more than $116,000 and accepted over $57,000 in bribes from 2014 to 2019.

A second former IT officer with the Nasinu council, Eliki Bula, is charged with one count of bribery for allegedly soliciting $1,000 from an employee of the Innovation Technology Company.

Meanwhile, the Director of Innovation Technology Private Limited, Razia Bibi, faces a count of aiding and abetting bribery. Another company employee also faces similar charges.

In a second case, Director of AK Investment Diwakar Lal is charged with conspiracy to defraud, bribery and causing a loss from June to September 2018. One of their employees also faces charges.

In the third case, Director of Printzone Vicky Kumar is charged with conspiracy to defraud, bribery and causing a loss amounting to $37,029 to the Nasinu Town Council.

He is alleged to have offered Bainivalu $7,400 as a bribe while trying to obtain a gain.

In the fourth case, Manager of Business Equipment Limited Remal Chand and Director Ranjani Chand are charged with two counts of bribery. It’s alleged that a total of $2,661 was exchanged between the two and Bainivalu.

The actions of all the accused are alleged to have caused a total loss of over $407,000 to the Nasinu Town Council.

The eight have been released on $5000 bail bond each.

The matter is adjourned to the 23rd of June.