FICAC laid charges this afternoon against 7 former employees of the Public Works Department and a Director of Phoenix Hardware Engineering & Supplies Ltd.

The 8 accused appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court before Magistrate Judge Chaitanya Lakshman.

They have been charged with 4 counts of Causing a Loss to the Public Works Department totaling $276,625.33 contrary to Section 324 (2) of the Crimes Decree 2009 and 2 counts of Obtaining a Financial Advantage amounting to $276,625.33 and $46,500 respectively contrary to Section 326 (1) of the Crimes Decree 2009

The 8 accused are:

• Taniela Railala (PWD)
• Tavenisa Tavaga (PWD)
• Ana Laqere (PWD)
• Amelia Vunisea Digova (PWD)
• Losalini Toroca (PWD)
• Adi Laisa Halafi (PWD)
• Vaciseva Laqai (PWD)
• Shelveen Narayan (Director of Phoenix Hardware Engineering & Supplies Ltd)
• Sunil Devendra Raj (Phoenix Hardware Engineering & Supplies Ltd) ‒ (already charged in absence)

The statement of offence shows that the offence was committed between June and August of 2010 in the Central Division in Suva whereby 7 of the accused persons namely Railala, Tavaga, Laqere, Digova, Laqai and Halafi dishonestly caused a loss to PWD by falsely facilitating the process of payments totaling $276,625.33 to Phoenix Hardware Engineering & Supplies Ltd, knowing that a substantial risk of the loss will occur in PWD.

It also showed that between June and August 2010 as well, 3 of the accused, namely Halafi, Narayan and Raj obtained a financial advantage from PWD and Phoenix Hardware Engineering & Supplies Ltd respectively.

All accused have each been reminded by Magistrate Lakshman that they are to reside at the address they have provided to the Court until their case is finally disposed off. They must also not interfere with witnesses connected with this case against them and that failure to comply with these conditions will result in each one of them paying $1000 each.

The matter has been adjourned to 31 October, 2013 for plea to be taken by the accused.