A former Senior Education Officer Northern has pleaded not guilty to 11 counts of forgery, 11 counts of uttering a forged document and 11 counts of obtaining money by virtue of a forged instrument. Charges against him were filed by FICAC in the Labasa Magistrate Count in September 2009 and the case has since been now transferred to the Suva Magistrate Court.

Joe Hewson Turagasau is currently being represented by Kalisito Maisamoa.

After Turagasau took his plea, Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili asked FICAC Prosecution if there were admissions in the caution interview. FICAC Prosecutor Elenoa Leweni informed the Court that there were.

During the session, Maisamoa informed the Court of some difficulties he was facing relating to his Principal firm being under investigation by the Independent Legal Services Commission, the firm has been closed as such all documents relating to the case are still in that office. To this he sought further time from the Court to obtain extra copies of the disclosures from Prosecution as well as to peruse the disclosures.
Prosecution agreed to provide copies of the disclosures if a request is made in that regard subject to the payment of the required fee for extra copies of disclosures.

The matter has been adjourned to 12 September, 2013 for plea to be taken.