Sainiana Waqainabete [Source: Facebook]

Sainiana Waqainabete has been acquitted of all corruption related charges by the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon.

Magistrate Waleen George says the court finds that the prosecution has not proven beyond reasonable doubt that the monies obtained by Waqainabete, as charged, constituted a financial benefit for her.

She says the court is not satisfied that Waqainabete became financially better off as a result receiving that money from each of the witnesses named in the counts against Waqainabete.

The Magistrate adds they found Waqainabete’s account was simply a channel through which money passed before they were used for the purpose it was intended for.

Waqainabete was charged with nine counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption.

It’s alleged that when Waqainabete was a Media Liaison Officer for the Ministry of Works, Transport and Public Utilities, obtained financial advantage by falsely stating that the then Minister for Works had requested $5,760 over nine separate occasions between May 2010 and June 2011.

Her case has been ongoing for seven years.