Press Release
Posted by Media Team 27 January 2026
The Suva Magistrates Court has sentenced former driving instructor, Mr Sandeep Anand Reddy, to a term of imprisonment for corruption-related offences.
Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne delivered the sentence today.
Mr Reddy was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and was subsequently found guilty of one count of False or Misleading Documents and two counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage.
The Court heard that in 2022, Mr Reddy produced a false taxi permit and a provisional approval letter, purportedly issued by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), to the victim.
It was established that Mr Reddy obtained $650 from the complainant by issuing the fraudulent taxi permit and a further $300 by falsely claiming that he would process the lodging of the permit.
Resident Magistrate Somaratne noted that the total sum of $950 has not been recovered and that no restitution has been made to the victim.
In sentencing, the Court acknowledged that the maximum penalty for the offence of False or Misleading Documents is five years’ imprisonment, while the prescribed penalty for Obtaining Financial Advantage is ten years’ imprisonment.
However, a reduction of two years was applied in light of mitigating factors, including Mr Reddy being a first-time offender and the submission of character references attesting to his good character.
The defence sought a suspended sentence; however, Resident Magistrate Somaratne declined the request, noting the increasing prevalence of individuals impersonating agents of the Land Transport Authority to defraud members of the public seeking taxi permits.
The Court emphasised that Mr Reddy had acted as an agent and unlawfully obtained $950 from the victim for a taxi permit that was ultimately fraudulent.
Resident Magistrate Somaratne further stated that a fully suspended sentence would send the wrong message to society, suggesting that the Court condones such conduct and is prepared to exercise undue leniency in similar cases.
Mr Reddy was sentenced to an aggregate term of two years’ imprisonment, of which 12 months will be served in a correctional facility.
The remaining 12 months have been suspended for a period of three years.
Mr Reddy has 28 days to file an appeal.
He was represented by Elenoro Savou of KS Law while FICAC State Counsel Ravinsh Lal appeared for the prosecution.
