Press Release

25-Month Jail Term for Former Court Officer

Posted by Media Team 3 December 2025

The Suva Magistrates Court has sentenced former court officer Isoa Matanitobua to 25 months’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of five counts of Giving 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 submitted false information to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) regarding payments of Traffic Infringement Notice fines for 5 individuals.

He received payments from the individuals but failed to issue receipts or record the transactions. He later prepared and signed letters falsely confirming to the LTA that the fines had been paid.

Resident Magistrate Shelyn Kiran found that Mr. Matanitobua knowingly issued the false letters to retain the payments while allowing the individuals to renew their driver’s licences. Evidence showed that no verification was conducted before the letters were issued.

Mr. Matanitobua applied for a non-conviction under Section 16(1) of the Sentencing and Penalties Act 2009.

Magistrate Kiran rejected the application, stating that his actions were serious, involved the mishandling of public funds, and were not a technical breach of the law.

In sentencing, Magistrate Kiran adopted a starting point of 24 months’ imprisonment per count, noting the seriousness of the offending.

She also considered the delay in laying charges but said Mr. Matanitobua contributed to some of the delays, including failures to appear and late filings.

As he had spent no time in remand, no additional discount was granted.

Mr. Matanitobua was sentenced to 25 months’ imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently.

He has 28 days to appeal.