News
Businessman Guilty of Passport Fraud
Posted by Media Team 5 May 2026
A businessman was found guilty by the Suva Magistrates’ Court of conspiring to defraud a public official.
The judgment against Ma Li, the second accused, was delivered by Resident Magistrate Shelyn Kiran.
The Court found that on or around 20 May 2016, Li and others conspired to procure the production and issuance of two Fijian passports to two non-citizens, with the intent of dishonestly influencing public officials, namely officers of the Department of Immigration, in the exercise of their official duties.
In delivering her judgment, Resident Magistrate Kiran referred to the evidence of the first accused, Sakiusa Kalisi, the then Passport and Citizenship Manager, who testified as a prosecution witness.
Mr Kalisi was the Principal Immigration Officer in 2016 and, among other responsibilities, oversaw passport printing.
He stated that he provided birth certificates and 2 passport photographs of 2 Chinese nationals to Joana Liganivai, a typist at the Department, and instructed her to include them with passports being prepared for training purposes.
According to his evidence, the documents relating to the two Chinese nationals were given to him by Mr Li.
Mr Kalisi further stated that Mr Li had requested his assistance in obtaining Fijian passports for two individuals.
He explained to Mr Li that the individuals would need to meet the residency requirement of living in Fiji for at least 10 years to qualify for citizenship and a passport.
However, Mr Li continued to persist with his request, repeatedly approaching him at his office.
In her analysis, Resident Magistrate Kiran stated that she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Li and Mr Kalisi knew each other, and that Mr Li had approached Mr Kalisi to obtain passports for two individuals despite both being aware that the individuals were not eligible, as they had not met the residency requirement of residing in Fiji for at least 5 out of 10 years.
The Court found Mr Li guilty as charged on one count of Conspiracy to Defraud a Public Official, contrary to Section 239 of the Crimes Act 2009, and convicted him accordingly.
