Written By : SITERI SAUVAKACOLO. A former divisional forestry officer Northern was yesterday handed a seven month jail term by the High Court in Suva after failing to pay a fine imposed on him earlier this year.
Noa Vakacegu had fronted the court to have his case reviewed and also for the court to check whether he had met the deadline given to him for the payment.
When asked by High Court Judge Justice Sitabarampillai Thurairaja, Vakacegu submitted that he had not as his solicitor intended to file an appeal against his judgment.
Vakacegu pleaded not guilty to the five counts of abuse of office against him for having approved a request from Sam Civil Service (a private logging company) to delay payment of outstanding royalties owed to Mataqali Tibitibi, Mataqali Vitina and the Government of Fiji.
He had done this without the authority of the Conservator of Forests, thereby causing prejudice to the rights of the said landowning units and the Government.
The Magistrate found him guilty after a lengthy trial in the magistrates court in Labasa in February where he was convicted accordingly and imposed a fine.
Justice Thurairaja asked Vakacegu to give the court reasons as to why he should not be imposed the default sentence to which he responded that upon his conviction he was suspended for five months and then later terminated.
Justice Thurairaja told Vakacegu that all abuse of office offenses received custodial sentences but he took into consideration his old age and public service record and instead imposed a fine.
However, after considering the current circumstance, the court imposed the default sentence of seven months imprisonment effective immediately.