News

Former court officer guilty of corruption

Posted by Media Team 14 August 2025

The Suva Magistrates Court has found former court officer Isoa Matanitobua guilty on ten corruption-related charges.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) charged Mr. Matanitobua with five counts of False Information to a Public Servant and five counts of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss.

Between 5 January 2015 and 8 September 2016, while employed at the Sigatoka Magistrates Court, Mr. Matanitobua provided false information to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) regarding the payment of Traffic Infringement Notice (TIN) fines for five individuals.

He received payments from them but did not issue receipts or record the transactions.

Resident Magistrate Shelyn Kiran found that the case centered on five letters prepared and signed by Mr. Matanitobua, falsely confirming to LTA that the fines had been paid.

The individuals concerned stated they never received receipts, and court officials denied carrying out any verification before the letters were issued.

Magistrate Kiran ruled that Mr. Matanitobua knowingly prepared the false letters to retain the payments while enabling the individuals to renew their driver’s licences. LTA relied on the letters as genuine, updating its records accordingly.

Mr. Matanitobua was convicted on all ten counts and has 28 days to lodge an appeal.