Two women involved in the defrauding of the Public Works Department in 2010 received concurrent prison sentences in the Suva High Court yesterday.

While delivering the verdict, High Court Judge Justice Chamath Morais sentenced Amelia Vunisea for two years, eight months while Laisa Halafi was sentenced for four years.

The duo were charged by the FICAC last year with one count each of abuse of office and two counts each of causing a loss with Halafi facing one additional count of obtaining a financial advantage of $300.

They pleaded guilty and admitted to facilitating false payments
to Mass Stationery Supplies Limited amounting to more than ten thousand five hundred dollars.

This is the fourth sentencing the two have received for similar offences committed against PWD and have served one year and five months out of the original sentence which were 8 years and 9 years 11 months respectively.

The duo are to serve their sentence concurrently.

In delivering his sentence, Justice Morais said that the level of culpability for the two was high and their actions displayed a serious breach of trust between employer, employee and the public.

Vunisea and Halafi were charged alongside four other individuals who pled not guilty.

The pretrial conference for the remaining accused will be held on the 31st of this month.