Vilimaina Kalokalo [left] and Laisiasa Valesu

Water Authority of Fiji’s two former staff facing corruption related charges pleaded not guilty at the Suva Magistrates Court today.

Laisiasa Valesu is charged with one count each of abuse of office, forgery and obtaining a financial advantage of $13, 348 in 2016.

Second accused Vilimaina Kalokalo is charged with one count of abuse of office.

It is alleged Valesu, the former WAF Land Acquisition Officer, enabled the processing of false payments using falsified documents which allowed him to obtain the above mentioned monetary advantage under the Painapiu Sewerage Projects.

Kalokalo, the former WAF Assistant Project Manager is alleged to have facilitated the processing of these false payments.

FICAC Counsel says there were full admissions in the caution interview of the first accused which they will be using during trial along with 20 witnesses and 11 documents.

Defence lawyers for the two accused informed the court that they will not be challenging the caution interviews.

The matter will be recalled on April 4th.