A former Clerical Officer of the Attorney General's office was sentenced today by the Suva Magistrates Court.

Magistrate Somaratne sentenced Samuela Foster to 18months for the offence of Obtaining a Financial Advantage contrary to section 326 of the Crimes Decree. Out of this, 6 months were to be served in prison and the remaining 12 months suspended for 2 years.

Foster was found guilty in October 2013 for manipulating the payroll system of the Attorney General's Office to make wrongful extra payments to two (2) other former work colleagues and obtaining half of the amount so paid. It was heard that Foster inserted additional meal allowances into the pays of these work colleagues. Later on, discrepancy was noted in one of the pay's for the period in question causing an audit to be conducted into the payroll system.

Following Foster's sentencing, Magistrate Somaratne told Foster that if he committed any crime during the operational period of his suspended sentence, he will be charged under Section 28 of the sentencing and penalties decree.