News

Former FDB Loan Officer Has Case to Answer on 19 Counts

Posted by Media Team 17 August 2026

The Suva Magistrates’ Court has ruled that former Fiji Development Bank (FDB) loan officer Joji Cavalevu has a case to answer on 19 charges prosecuted by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

Mr Cavalevu was originally charged with 12 counts of Falsification of Documents, 12 counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage and three counts of Forgery under the Crimes Act 2009.

At the close of the prosecution case, Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne considered whether the evidence presented by the prosecution established a prima facie case sufficient to require Mr Cavalevu to answer the charges.



The Court found that there was a case to answer on:

• eight counts of Falsification of Documents;

• eight counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage; and

• all three counts of Forgery.

The Court found that there was no case to answer on the remaining four counts of Falsification of Documents and four counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage. Mr Cavalevu was accordingly acquitted on those eight counts.

During the prosecution case, FICAC called 19 witnesses and tendered documentary exhibits including application forms, disputed receipts, bank statements and quotations.

The prosecution alleges that while employed as a loan officer at FDB in 2017 and 2018, Mr Cavalevu dishonestly issued false receipts to customers applying for loans and obtained money from them. The prosecution also alleges that documents were fabricated with the intention of inducing FDB officials to accept them as genuine.

In finding a case to answer on the remaining charges, the Court considered the evidence of customers who testified that they had handed money to Mr Cavalevu, together with the documentary evidence and evidence presented by FDB officers.

The proceedings will continue before the Suva Magistrates’ Court in respect of the remaining 19 counts.