The Principal of Pacific Theological College said that he never had any doubts on his two finance officers who are on trial for allegedly laundering over half a million dollars from the college in Veiuto, Suva over a six year period.
Former finance officers Rosheen Raj and Rine Sorby are charged with three counts of money laundering.
It’s alleged that between 1st June 2006 and 30th November 2012 the two while employed as finance officers at the Pacific Theological College laundered around 582,000 dollars.
The first witness, the principal of the college Dr Feleterika Nokise continued giving evidence in the Suva High court as the trial continued into the second day.
Dr Nokise said the two were working under his leadership when he joined the college in 2002 and up until 2012 when the alleged incident came up.
He described his relationship with the two as excellent.
He said that Raj and Sorby were responsible and he trusted the two as the trust was built over period of years of working together.
Raj and Sorby are each charged with one count of money laundering and are jointly charged with another count of money laundering.
It is alleged that between the 1st day of June 2006 and the 16th day of February 2011 the two engaged directly or indirectly in transactions involving Pacific Theological Bank Account as a finance officer of Pacific Theological College responsible for preparing documents in relation to payment of wages of Pacific Theological College staff, paid themselves in excess of her normal salary or wage from the said Bank Account by falsifying documents and obtained a total sum of $96,576 and $73,099 that were proceeds of crime knowing or ought to have reasonably known that the said sum money is derived from some form of unlawful activity.
It is also alleged that between the 1st day of March 2010 and the 30th day of November, 2012, engaged directly or indirectly in transactions in relation to cheques of Pacific Theological College payable to various body corporates which had the payees altered to fictitious names and by cashing the falsified cheques obtained a total sum of $412,567.61 that were proceeds of crime knowing or ought to have reasonably known that the money is derived from some form of unlawful activity.
The trial continues in the High court.
