News
Imprisonment sentence handed down by Magistrates Court for Naicovi
Posted by Media Team 22 July 2022
The Magistrates Court of the Anti-Corruption Division in Navua on 20 July 2022 handed down an imprisonment sentence to be immediately served by Rigieta Naicovi.
Rigieta Naicovi was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) in 2021 with two (2) counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage and one (1) count of General Dishonesty – Causing A Loss.
For the two counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage, it is alleged that between 3 June to 20 November 2015, Naicovi forged the signatures on the Sitting Allowance List for the Namosi Provincial Council Meeting, and as a result obtained a financial advantage amounting to FJD$390.00 from the Namosi Provincial Council, knowing that she was not eligible to receive the said financial advantage.
For the count of General Dishonesty – Causing A Loss; it is alleged between 01 October 2016 and 7 February 2017, dishonestly caused a loss to the Wainilotulevu Villages who are members of the Namosi Provincial Council by misappropriating the Wainilotulevu Villagers fundraising funds amounting to FJD$1,500.00 whilst knowing that the loss would occur or that there was a substantial risk that the loss would occur to the Wainilotulevu villagers.
Naicovi waived her right to counsel and pleaded guilty to the offences willingly admitting the summary of facts which was read out to her during her Court appearance.
During the sentencing, the Magistrate stated that it would be improper for the Court to suspend the entire part of the sentence on the basis that the accused was in a position of power and influence as an agent of the State.
The Magistrate further stated that the accused has not made full restitution since 2015 and even after her plea of guilty therefore the sentence is also a means of general deterrence.
Rigieta Naicovi has been sentence to serve (8) months of custodial imprisonment from her twenty-two (22) months sentence in custody whilst the balance of (14) months will be suspended for a period of two (2) years.
Prosecution and the accused have been given twenty-eight (28) days to appeal.