A businessman and five former employees of the Public Works Department appeared in the Suva Magistrates court this morning.

Director of Kumar’s Hardware Supplies, Jaswant Kumar, and former PWD employees are Asenaca Manuapa Kanaivalu and prisoners Laisa Halafi, Vaciseva Lagai, Amelia Vunisea and Ana Laqere have been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.

Halafi, Lagai, Vunisea and Laqere are serving prisoners while Kumar and Kanaivalu are on bail.

Halafi and Vunisea have pleaded guilty to their charges while others have maintained a not guilty plea.

It is alleged that between August 1 to December 31, 2009 all the accused conspired together to commit a felony with intent to defraud PWD and obtain $10,268.74 as payments for the Purchase Orders that had been previously paid to Kumar’s Hardware Supplies.

Halafi, Kanaivalu, Lagai, Vunisea and Laqere are also charged with a count each of abuse of office.

It is alleged that all the accused facilitated the process of false payments to Kumar’s Hardware Supplies.

Kumar, Vunisea and Laqere are further charged with conspiracy to defraud – causing a loss.

It is alleged that between July 1 to 31, 2010, Kumar, Vunisea and Laqere conspired with intent to defraud PWD, dishonestly causing a loss of $5,760.82 to be made to Kumar’s Hardware Supplies as payments for the Purchase Orders that have been paid to Phoenix Hardware, and Engineer and General Supplies.

Vunisea and Laqere are charged with a count each of abuse of office and causing a loss and Kumar is charged with obtaining a financial advantage.

The matter has been adjourned to 27th July for mitigation and sentencing submission for Halafi and Vunisea.