News

Three in court for corruption related offences

February 23, 2018 5:27 am

Three people including an investor and immigration officer appeared in the Suva Magistrates court this afternoon charged with corruption related offences.

Ling Gao is charged with one count of bribery and possession of forged document, Parvir Rattan is charged with one count of bribery while Sereima Rokovada is charged with one count of bribery and one count of using a forged document.

It is alleged that Gao and Rattan offered an advantage of $100 to Rokovada who was an exemption officer at the Department of Immigration.

Article continues after advertisement

It is also alleged that Gao had in her possession an altered work permit so that Rokovada could use the forged document and induce her to accept it as a genuine document and as a result dishonestly influenced the exercise of a public duty.

It is also alleged that Rokovada accepted an advantage of $100 and used as false document.

Gao has been remanded in custody after the court was informed that she is staying in the country illegally as her work permit had expired in 2015.

She informed the court that she had lodged application to extend her work visa before the expiry however she has not received any update on it till now.

Senior Immigration Officer Deepak Karan informed the court that her application is still being processed as they are still waiting for a report from Investment Fiji.

Gao has been remanded in custody till Monday while Rattan and Rokovada have been released on bail with strict conditions.

The matter will be recalled on Monday.