Former Water Authority of Fiji Engineer Sentenced for Bribery. Mohammed Shafraaz Ali, a former senior engineer at the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), was sentenced to imprisonment and fined by Resident Magistrate Jeremaia Savou in the Suva Magistrate Court on Friday 21 March 2025.
Ali was convicted of one (1) count of bribery.
The court found that between between 1 March 2017 and 30 June 2017, whilst employed at WAF as Regional Engineer Bulk, Ali accepted an advantage in the form of a Fiji Airways return air ticket to Sydney, Australia, worth $1430.60.
The advantage was paid on 21 March 2017 by Sphynx Solutions Pte Limited on account of Ali performing an act in his capacity as a public servant.
Ali had made multiple requests for the supply of repair clamps, non-slam check valves, Viking joints Maxlift Joiner, rubber expansion joints, rubber joints, 250mm Actuator Valve and 12” Rubber Expansion joints for multiple pumps and pipes at multiple sites administered by the Water Authority of Fiji.
All his requests led to purchase orders being raised by Sphynx Solutions and ultimately the purchase and supply of the requested items from Sphynx Solution by the Authority.
Resident Magistrate Savou imposed a custodial sentence of eighteen (18) months. A non-parole period of twelve (12) months was ordered.
In addition, Ali was fined $3,000. Failure to pay the fine by the review date of 20 June, 2025, will result in an additional three hundred (300) days being added to his custodial sentence.
Ali was granted twenty-eight (28) days to file an appeal against the conviction and/or sentence.
FICAC was represented by State Counsel Lanieta More and Junior State Counsel Immanuel Turaga.