The Nasinu Magistrates Court has granted a $10,000 non-cash bail bond to Mr. Laukesh Lal Raj, who is facing corruption-related charges.
Mr. Raj has been charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one (1) count of False Representation in Order to Obtain a Benefit, an alternative first count of False or Misleading Documents, and one (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 prosecutor, Ms. Lanieta More informed the court that First Phase Disclosures have been served to the accused.
Resident Magistrate Krishan Prasad imposed strict bail conditions, including that Mr. Raj must not reoffend, must reside at his current residential address, and may not change his address without prior notification to the court.
He is also required to report to the FICAC office in Suva once a month and must not interfere with State witnesses.
A Stop Departure Order has been issued, and Mr. Raj was ordered to surrender all travel documents to the court.
His two sureties were also presented in Court.
The matter has been adjourned to 16 July 2025 for the filing of Second Phase Disclosures.