Eleven people including former employees of Public Works Department are by FICAC charged with forty-two counts of corruption-related offences appeared in the Suva High Court today.
Ana Laqere, Amelia Vunisea, Vaciseva Laqai, Vilisi Tuitavuki, , Laisa Halafi, Tavenisa Tavaga, Kiniviliame Taviraki, Salesh Bikash and Roshni Lata are charged with abuse of office, causing a loss and obtaining the financial advantage.
It’s alleged that between 1st February 2010 and 31st May 2010 Laqere, Vunisea, Laqai, Tuitavuki, Halafi, Tavaga, Taviraki, the former employees of PWD facilitated false payments of more than $100,000 to Crazy Office Supplies and Entire Office Supplies knowing that there will be a substantial loss to PWD.
It’s also alleged that Bikash and Lata obtained a financial advantage of more than $93,000 knowing that they were not eligible to receive the payments.
The matter has been adjourned to 16th of November for High Court Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza to decide whether the matter will be transferred to Justice Salesi Temo as there are other pending matters in relation to the former employees before his court.
