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High Court Refuses Stay Application Against Former LTA Officers

Posted by Media Team 10 September 2026

The Suva High Court has refused an application by two former Land Transport Authority (LTA) officers seeking a permanent stay of criminal proceedings currently before the Nasinu Magistrates Court.

The application was filed by Adi Vakacegu Ramanakiwai Veronika Malani and Arieta Likuivalu, who are facing corruption-related charges laid by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

Ms Malani faces one count of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss and one count of Obtaining a Financial Advantage, relating to allegations involving Accountable Advance claims of $250 and $1,925.

Ms Likuivalu faces one count of Obtaining a Financial Advantage and one count General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss, relating to allegations involving Accountable Advance claims of $250 and $1,990.

The matter is scheduled for trial at the Nasinu Magistrates Court from 14 to 17 September 2026.

In his judgment delivered today, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe found that the applicants could be tried fairly without impairment to their defence and that the circumstances did not warrant a stay of the criminal proceedings.

The Court noted that the matter had been mentioned more than 40 times, with some adjournments attributed to the applicants’ counsel failing to appear and others resulting from the COVID-19 lockdown.

Justice Rajasinghe therefore refused and dismissed the application for a stay, and directed that the Nasinu Magistrates Court proceed with the trial as scheduled.