The law does not discriminate against ordinary citizens and civil servants who are illegally participating or running pyramid schemes.

Minister for Commerce and Trade, Faiyaz Koya says civil servants involved in this illegal act are violating their code of ethics.

Koya adds those caught will be charged.

“First and foremost, it’s unlawful for anybody and what happens to a particular person if they are found doing it is they get charged and it doesn’t matter whether you are a civil servant or an ordinary citizen.”

The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission is currently investigating some of the pyramid schemes operating locally including those that are organized by some civil servants.

The Commission says they are aware of the 500 schemes in operation involving more than 30,000 Fijians.