Three ex-Land Transport Authority officers and four others pleaded not guilty to allegations of corruption when they appeared in court yesterday.

Ten others who also appeared, did not take their plea, after they requested for more time.

They comprise of one ex-LTA officer and nine others.

Those who pleaded not guilty at the Nasinu Magistrates Court were former Defensive Driving Instructor Manoa Naitala, former Customer Service officer William Pawa Tuiono, former Contracted Driving Instructor Rajnesh Prasad and non-LTA staff members Gitendra Prasad, Manoj Kumar, Mohammed Yunus and Sevuloni Digitakimata.

Those who did not take their plea were former LTA Road Marshal Ranjina Hicks and non-LTA staff members, Frank Whippy, Mohammed Zakariya, Mul Deo, Avinesh Shashi Kumar, Maciu Vakatawa Gaunatalei, Prem Wati, Ratu Sekove Soronakadavu, Jeet Singh and Jerry Nand.

Zakariya is charged with a count each of bribery and dishonesty obtaining a gain. Tuiono is charged with a count each of bribery, abuse of office and six counts each of unauthorised modification of data.

Deo, Wati, Digitakimata, Soronakadavu, Singh, Gaunatalei and Kumar are charged with dishonesty obtaining a gain. Yunus is charged with a count each of attempting to obtain a gain and bribery.

Prasad is charged with a count of bribery and two counts each of corrupt transactions with agents.

Hicks is charged with four counts each of general dishonesty obtaining a gain. Manoj Kumar is charged with a count each of dishonesty, obtaining a gain and bribery.

Gitendra Prasad is charged with bribery. Naitala is charged with three counts each of corrupt transactions with agents.

Nand is charged with attempting to obtain a gain. Whippy is charged with general dishonesty and obtaining a gain.

The case has been adjourned to April 4, for mention.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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