Two men, charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, appeared in the Suva Magistrate Court yesterday in relation to the alleged issue of passports to Chinese nationals.

The matter was called before Magistrate Waleen George.

Manager Passport and Citizenship at the Department of Immigration, Kalisi Sakiusa, is charged with a count each of conspiracy to influence public officials, abuse of office and agent using false document to deceive his principal.

A Chinese national holding a Fijian Passport, Ma Li, was also charged in relation to conspiracy to influence public officials.

It is alleged that Sakiusa with others on May 20, 2016, at Suva, conspired together to procure the production and issue of two Fijian passports to two Chinese nationals with intent of dishonestly influencing the immigration officer.

It is also alleged that Sakiusa while being employed at the Department of Immigration, in abuse of his office did an arbitrary act of unlawfully issuing Fijian passports to persons who were non-citizens of Fiji.

Sakiusa, while being an agent namely the Manager Passport and Citizenship for the Department of Immigration of the Government of Fiji is alleged to have intended to deceive the Government of Fiji with a certificate of Naturalization which contained statements that the two Chinese nationals have become Citizens of Fiji.

Both the accused have been granted bail and have a stop departure order imposed on them.

Sakiusa was granted bail in the Sum of $2000 with two sureties and he is to report to the Nabua Police Station once a week.

Li was granted cash bail of $2000 and he is to report to the Samabula Police Station every Saturday.

Li is represented by Deepak Chand of Prena Preetika lawyers and Sakiusa is representing himself.

The case has been adjourned to November 25 for FICAC to serve second phase disclosures.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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