Press Release
FICAC Forfeiture Case To Proceed
Posted by Media Team 30 January 2026
The Suva High Court has dismissed a summons filed by businessman Laukesh Sanjay Raj seeking to strike out an originating summons by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for the forfeiture of his property in Tacirua, Suva.
FICAC alleges that the property was acquired through the submission of false and/or incorrect information to the Housing Authority.
The basis of Mr. Raj’s application was that FICAC’s originating summons did not disclose a reasonable cause of action against him.
Puisne Judge, Hon. Justice Chaitanya Lakshman, delivered the judgment this morning.
The Court noted that FICAC had previously applied on an ex parte basis and was granted a restraining order over a triple-storey property located at Niuvula Crescent, off Khalsa Road, Tacirua, comprising 11 flats.
The respondent submitted that the application was based on suspicion that the property was tainted and acquired through proceeds of crime.
However, the interested party, HFC Bank, provided affidavit evidence showing that the respondent had obtained financing from the bank to acquire the property.
FICAC also alleged that the land was acquired through fraudulent documents and that the respondent submitted false information and documents to both the Housing Authority and HFC Bank.
Justice Lakshman stated that the respondent maintained the loan facility from HFC Bank was used to acquire the property, and that FICAC did not dispute the bank’s financing of the acquisition and subsequent funding.
FICAC alleges that the property was acquired through fraudulent means, including failure to declare jointly owned property despite Housing Authority requirements that lots be allocated to first-home owners, and the submission of a fraudulent payslip to the Housing Authority.
The Court noted that the allegations of fraud and forgery currently before the Magistrates Court relate directly to the property in question.
Justice Lakshman further stated that tainted property is broadly defined and includes proceeds of crime, any benefit derived from proceeds of crime, and property used or intended to be used in connection with the commission of an offence.
The Court dismissed the summons seeking to strike out FICAC’s action.
Mr. Raj has been charged by FICAC with 1 count of False Representation in Order to Obtain a Benefit, an alternative first count of False or Misleading Documents, and 1 count of Using Forged Documents.
It is alleged that between 1 May 2016 and 11 November 2016, the accused knowingly made false representations to the Housing Authority of Fiji by submitting a falsified payslip in an attempt to secure residential land under the Authority’s First Home Ownership Initiative.
It is also alleged that between the period of 31st December 2017, Mr. Raj used a false Fiji Revenue Customs Authority Return of Income for Business Declaration form, which misstated business income, with the intention to induce the public official to accept the document as genuine and therefore dishonestly influence the public official’s return of income assessment.
FICAC State Counsel Nimisha Shankar appeared for the applicant, Mohammed Yunus represented the respondent, and Nilesh Lajendra appeared for HFC Bank as the interested party.
